- Here’s the Dish: Roxanne Austin was promoted to president of DirecTV, the satellite television unit of Hughes Electronics Corp. The former CFO of Hughes succeeds Odie Donald who left the El Segundo, Calif.-based company “to pursue other personal and professional interests.” The move comes at a time when Hughes has been caught up in drawn-out merger talks with Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. and rival EchoStar Communications. In May, Chairman and CEO Michael Smith resigned, possibly over frustration with how the merger talks were going.
- Shoot For the Stars: Constellation Energy Group named E. Follin Smith to the SVP and CFO position. Before joining the Baltimore-based energy holding company, she was CFO of flooring-maker Armstrong Holdings Inc. She has also been CFO of General Motor’s Delphi Chassis Systems division. Constellation is planning to separate into two publicly traded companies, a merchant wholesale energy company and a retail energy business. Smith will continue as CFO of the new merchant energy company.
- Ditto: Real estate investment trust iStar Financial Inc. appointed Spencer Haber to the additional role of president. He is currently CFO of the New York-based REIT.
- Finding a Gem: Charles & Colvard Ltd., a Morrisville, N.C.- based supplier of precious stones, named James R. Braun to the position of CFO. He was formerly CFO of Webcraft Inc., a manufacturing and database company.
