Transitions - appointments and resignations - Brief Article

Chief Executive, The, July, 2001

Jack A. Shaw, 62, was named CEO of Hughes Electronics, a digital television and broadband communications unit of General Motors based in El Segundo, CA. He succeeds Mike Smith, 57, who retired as chairman and CEO in May following GM's decision to pursue a proposal to combine Hughes with The News Corp.'s Sky Global subsidiary.

* Jamieson A. Karson, 43, was named CEO of Steven Madden Ltd., a Long Island City, NY-based fashionable footwear company. Karson is a prominent attorney who joined the company's board in January. The appointment followed the resignation of former CEO Steve Madden, 44, who has agreed to plead guilty to securities and fraud charges that could carry a prison sentence of up to 25 years. Madden will remain with the company as Chief Creative Officer responsible for footwear design.

* Dennis Francis, 49, has been named CEO of U.S. Wireless, a San Ramon, CA-based company that pinpoints locations of cellular callers. He replaces former chairman and CEO Dr. Oliver Hilsenrath following an investigation into various accounting irregularities, including cash payments to outside entities, that the board determined may have been affiliated with Hilsenrath and a former CEO of the company.

* Chris McCormick, 45, was promoted from COO to president and CEO of outdoor specialty cataloguer L.L. Bean of Freeport, MN. He succeeds Leon A. Gorman, 66, who will become chairman of the family-held company.

* Richard H. Lenny, 49, left the top post at Kraft Foods' Nabisco Biscuit and Snack unit to become president and CEO of confectionery giant Hershey Foods in Hershey, PA. The hire completes a CEO search began in 2000.

* Richard S. Braddock, 59, was named CEO of Internet bidding company Priceline.com as part of a "management realignment." He replaces former president and CEO Daniel H. Schulman, 43, who will continue to serve on the board of directors.

* Robert Mondavi, 87, has become chairman emeritus of his namesake winemaking company in Oakville, CA. Gregory Evans, 52, was promoted from COO to president and CEO and a member of the board. Mondavi's son Robert Michael Mondavi, 58, advanced from president and CEO to chairman of the board.

* Patrick R. Dolan, 45, was inaugurated CEO of Bristol-Myers Squibb, the $18 billion global health and personal care company based in New York City. He succeeds Charles A. Heimbold, Jr., 67, who will retire.

* James F. "Pat" O'Crowley III, 47, was named president and CEO of Standard Automotive, a New York City-based supplier to aerospace, nuclear, industrial, and military industries. He succeeds Steven Merker, 43, who retains the title of chairman.