Michele Kessler, ex-Mars Inc., named by NBC Universal as chief marketing officer in residence for integrated sales and marketing … Russ Pillar resigns from Playboy Enterprises board.

Maurizio Vitale, ex-Discovery Networks, named OWN senior vice president of marketing … Frank Eliason, director of Comcast’s digital care, leaving for undisclosed job in banking and social media.

James Dole, ex-EarthLink, named WorldGate chief financial officer, replacing Joel Boyarski, who’s retiring Oct. 20 … Hope Etheridge promoted to Television Bureau of Advertising chief operating officer … James Reid-Anderson, Dade Behring Holdings, joins Brightpoint board … AirWalk Communications names Roger Dorf, ex-Cisco, executive chairman … Brian Stewart resigning as Crown Media chief financial officer to work in a different industry … Tom Valasek, ex-Rusnak Auto Group, becomes vice president-business development, Time Warner Cable Media Sales … Miami state Rep. Ron Brise (D) and Jacksonville councilman Arthur Graham (R) named by Gov. Charlie Crist (I) to Florida’s Public Service Commission to replace David Klement and Benjamin Stevens.

Northrop Grumman names Sid Ashworth, ex-GE Aviation, corporate vice president-government relations … DirecTV names Joe Bosch, ex-Centex, executive vice president-human relations … CompTIA hires David Valdez, ex-Verizon, as senior director-public advocacy … Akamai names Chuck Neerdaels, ex-Yahoo, as vice president-engineering, cloud platforms … Joanne Waage promoted by MobiTV to vice president of strategic media partnerships and programming … Kevin DelGobbo re-elected to a second term as chairman and John Betkoski to a fourth term as vice chairman of the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control … Theresa Becenti-Aguilar, Democratic nominee for New Mexico Public Regulation Commissioner on the November ballot, appointed by Gov. Bill Richardson (D) to fill that seat for a term ending Dec. 31.

Globalstar hires: Dirk Wild, ex-Shaw Group, named senior vice president of finance, to become chief financial officer in mid-August, replacing Fuad Ahmad, who will remain senior vice president of corporate development and strategy; Barbee Ponder, ex-BellSouth, becomes general counsel and vice president of regulatory affairs; and Brian Beck, ex-Harris, to vice president of product development and manufacturing … Steve Rowley, ex-Sprint, hired by Cox Business as vice president of field operations for western division … Rick Jaffe promoted to senior vice president and editor-in-chief of Fox Sports Interactive Media, a new position … Craig Etheridge, ex-Weather Channel, named Gannett Digital vice president of mobile ad sales.

Joel Kelsey, ex-Consumers Union, joins Free Press as political adviser … InterMedia names Robert Coonrod, ex-Meridian International Center and Corporation for Public Broadcasting, CEO; Gerry Power, ex-BBC World Service Trust, becomes managing director, U.K. … Consultant Art Prest becomes technology advisor to Rural Telecommunications Group.

Katie Stanton, ex-State Department and White House, to join Twitter as vice president-international business strategy and operations, in August … Ciena changes: James Frodsham assumes responsibility for integration of optical and carrier Ethernet assets from Nortel, whose acquisition he worked on; Arthur Smith, senior vice president and chief integration officer, resigns effective July 31 … Shaunagh Guinness promoted by Katz Radio Group to senior vice president of research and marketing … Lisa Theodore, ex-Resorts & Great Hotels Magazine, named vice president/travel and international for Tribune365.

Graham Jones retires from NAB as senior director of communications engineering, science and technology … New vice president positions at online gaming and social networking mobile payment service Zong: Elena Krasnoperova, ex-PayPal, for analytics and fraud management; Stephane Kasriel, also ex-PayPal, for sales and business sevelopment; Sandy Taylor, ex-Microsoft, for finance; and Tim Armandpour, ex-SendMe, for engineering …Deborah Cowan, ex-Radio One, named NPR chief financial officer … Ditech Networks board elects director Alan Howe chairman, replacing Edwin Harper … Gene Vidler named vice president and market manager for Cox Media radio stations in Tulsa.

Robert Pickett re-elected Alaska Regulatory Commission chairman through June 30 …

Rick Kaplan, ex-aide to FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, becomes chief counsel to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, succeeding Bruce Gottlieb, who leaves at end of July … Scott Kinney promoted by Discovery Communications to senior vice president of global professional development, policy and education outreach … Todd Siegel promoted to executive vice president of Fox Cable Sales … Playboy Enterprises eliminates position of Michael Dannhauser as senior vice president and controller in restructuring; Chief Financial Officer Christoph Pachler becomes principal accounting officer … Whitney Holland, ex-Bravo, named Hallmark Channels vice president of acquisitions … Harry Neuhaus, ex-LATV Networks, hired by Petry Network as vice president of international … Don Parsons, ex-CaribeVision, named Lotus Entravision Reps vice president for the Southeast region.