Apparel leader appoints new legal and business head

02/20/07

Apparel leader appoints new legal and business head

Leading apparel marketer Hanesbrands, Inc., has announced that Joia M. Johnson will be the company's new Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary. Johnson comes from RARE Hospitality International, Inc., an Atlanta-based restaurant franchise operator, where she served in a similar capacity. She brings with her more than 20 years of legal and business experience and has dealt with initiations of corporate law departments as well as real estate, construction, risk management, and human resources matters. An international name, Hanesbrands designs, manufactures, and sources innerwear, outerwear, and hosiery apparel and has about 50,000 employees working in 24 countries across the globe.

New GC at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas has hired former Chief Counsel to the Governor Michael All to serve as its new General Counsel. All will oversee legal matters for the corporation and its subsidiaries, including corporate strategies, business operations, litigation activities, and coordination with outside counsel. He has served the state governor since 1999, and prior to that, he held associate positions at a number of law firms. With 850,000 clients, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is the largest health insurer in Kansas.

Australian gold producer hires new GC
Leading Pacific Rim gold mining company OceanaGold has hired Jane Nosworthy to serve as General Counsel and Company Secretary. Nosworthy will assist the company with its growth strategy by providing in-depth knowledge of the resource industry and the area of mergers and acquisitions. Most recently, she was Commercial Legal Manager and Assistant Company Secretary at Leviathan Resources, which de-merged from MPI Mines in November 2004. With offices in Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines, OceanaGold is growing rapidly and is in the process of developing three new mines.

Devon appoints energy lawyer as GC
Lyndon C. Taylor has been named General Counsel and Senior Vice President for oil and gas major Devon Energy Corporation. Taylor will replace Duke R. Ligon, who is retiring. Having focused on the development of contracts for energy infrastructure projects, Taylor has significant experience in energy law. He joined Devon in 2005 after practicing at New York-based Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP, for two decades. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, Devon is one of the world's leading independent oil and gas producers.

Pozen, Inc., creates new senior VP and GC position
Pharmaceutical company Pozen, Inc., has appointed Gilda M. Thomas as its Senior Vice President and General Counsel—a newly created position. Reporting directly to CEO John Plachetka, Thomas will oversee all legal matters for the company. Prior to joining Pozen, Thomas was Vice President and General Counsel for EMD Pharmaceuticals, an affiliate of German drug giant Merck KGaA. Pozen specializes in the development of "products for the treatment of acute and chronic pain and other pain-related indications."

Premier REIT names new GC
Leading retail real estate investment trust Glimcher Realty Trust has hired Kim A. Rieck, Esq., to serve as the company's Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary. Rieck comes from international law firm Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, LLP. He served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of DeBartolo Realty Corporation before going into private practice. Headquartered in Columbus, OH, Glimcher Realty Trust owns, manages, acquires, and develops malls and community shopping centers throughout the United States.


Want to read more GCC News?
For past editions of our weekly news, click here.