Personnel Notes

The head of one of the technology industry's most influential Washington trade groups is leaving to create his own lobbying shop.

TechAmerica CEO Phillip Bond is leaving the organization he helped shape into a formidable voice on technology issues over the past five and a half years to join T.J. Petrizzo, head of Petrizzo Strategic as partner, president and CEO of the renamed Petrizzo Bond Inc.

As head of the Information Technology Association of America, Bond oversaw the 2008 merger between his organization and the American Electronics Association (AeA) that resulted in the formation of TechAmerica. He served as undersecretary of technology at the Commerce Department from 2001 to 2005.

“Some five and half years ago, it was Phil’s initiative that launched the effort to combine strengths and skills and rebrand them 'TechAmerica,' the largest advocacy group representing the U.S. technology sector," said Peter Boni, chairman of TechAmerica's Board of Directors.

"He has been an effective and visible voice for the association, and we wish him success in his new endeavor."

TechAmerica announced Sunday that chief operating officer Daniel Varroney will serve as interim CEO effective immediately. Under Bond, the organization has pushed the government to reduce taxes and trade barriers on the tech industry while advocating for greater government adoption of cloud computing.

Former senator and Motion Picture Association of America chairman and CEO Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) announced a new leadership team for Hollywood's lobbying shop on Thursday.

Leading the new team will be Michael O’Leary, who has been promoted to senior executive vice president of global policy and external affairs; executive vice president of global communications Laura Nichols; and senior adviser to the chairman Lori McGrogan.

“While the challenges to our industry are great, I am excited about the future and all it can bring, and am confident that this seasoned, knowledgeable and creative MPAA leadership team is more than up for that challenge," Dodd said.

Former Bush spokesman Rob Saliterman has joined Google to run outreach efforts to Republican campaigns.

Facebook announced three additions to its public policy team on Tuesday as the social-media giant continues to expand its Washington presence ahead of the upcoming debate on comprehensive privacy legislation.

The firm said Erin Egan will join its Washington office as director of privacy and senior policy adviser in mid-October. Egan is currently a partner and co-chairwoman of law firm Covington & Burling's global privacy and data security group.

Also joining the Washington office will be Louisa Terrell, who will start as director of public policy next month. Terrell previously helped develop and guide President Obama's legislative agenda in the Senate as White House special assistant to the president for legislative affairs.

Additionally, Facebook added Erika Mann to lead its new Brussels office and serve as chief spokeswoman to European Union institutions. Shre previously represented the Computer and Communications Industry Association in Europe, and spent 15 years in the European Parliament representing the German state of Lower Saxony.

Comcast announced Monday it has hired Sitfel Nicolaus managing director Rebecca Arbogast to serve as vice president for global public policy effective next week.

Arbogast will oversee the company's public policy efforts and report to Comcast/NBC Universal Washington president Kyle McSlarrow. She previously served as head of the Federal Communications Commissions from 1997 until 2001 as chief of the International Bureau Telecom division.

“We are very pleased to welcome Rebecca Arbogast to our team," McSlarrow said. "Rebecca has had a distinguished career and is widely respected for her insightful understanding of the telecommunications and media landscape from a strategic business, legal and regulatory perspective.”

Arbogast joined Stifel Financial in 2005, where she focused on regulatory issues impacting the media, telecom and communications industries. She previously worked at Legg Mason from 2001 to 2005 and at the Justice Department before joining the FCC.

Arbogast holds a J.D. from Yale Law School and Master's from the University of Iowa. She began her career as a corporate attorney at Wilmer, Cutler and Pickering.

Sony has named a former Homeland Security Department official to head its cybersecurity efforts, the company announced Tuesday.

Philip Reitinger was in charge of protecting the federal government's computer systems from domestic and foreign attacks at DHS. At Sony, he will be the senior vice president and chief information security officer.

The announcement comes just months after a massive security breach jeopardized the personal information of 77 million Sony PlayStation users around the world. The breach — and Sony's delay in notifying consumers — prompted scrutiny from members of Congress.  

Reitinger has also worked on cybersecurity for the Defense Department, the Justice Department and for Microsoft.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski appointed David B. Robbins to be the commission's managing director Friday.

The FCC managing director is responsible for the agency's budget, contracts, purchasing, communications and meeting schedule, among other things.

Robbins previously worked for the U.S. Small Business Administration as the associate administrator for the Office of Management & Administration. He also served as the assistant director of the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Before joining the FTC, Robbins spent 15 years working in the private sector as an executive, information technology professional and attorney.

Robbins succeeds Steve VanRoekel, who left the FCC earlier this year to work for USAID and is currently the federal government's chief technology officer.

"David’s leadership and management experience will be invaluable as we continue our efforts to do our work on behalf of the public more efficiently and effectively," Genachowski said.

Colin Crowell, former adviser to Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski, said Monday he will be joining Twitter in mid-September as head of global public policy.

"Have pushed open exchange of information in tech policy for 20+ yrs. No better place to apply that belief than Twitter. Look forward to it," Crowell tweeted.

Predictably, the news broke via the micro-blogging service.

“Very happy to welcome longtime user advocate Colin Crowell as Twitter’s head of Global Public Policy,” tweeted Twitter general counsel for policy Alexander Macgillivray.

Crowell, who spent 20 years as a lead staffer for former telecom subpanel chairman Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), is considered one of the top telecom policy experts in Washington. He joins Adam Sharp, a former Democratic staffer who serves as Twitter's main outreach to lawmakers and their staff members.

Former Washington Post columnist Terry Neal will join wireless startup LightSquared, the company announced Monday.

He will serve as senior vice president of public relations and communications, overseeing the company’s media strategy.

The National Association of Broadcasters promoted Christopher Ornelas to chief operating officer and Joy Whitlow to chief financial officer, the group announced Tuesday.

Ornelas served as chief counsel on communications and technology policy to former Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.). Smith is now the president and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters.

Ornelas also worked in the Washington office of law firm Wilkinson Barker.

Whitlow, a certified public accountant, first joined NAB in 2009 as vice president and controller.

She worked as a budget manager for WETA-TV in Washington and as a business manager for WGBH-TV Boston.