Aerospace

The Aerospace Corp. of El Segundo has announced several promotions. Michael Daugherty has been promoted to group vice president of the company’s Space Systems Group. He previously was group vice president of the Engineering and Technology Group. John Parsons has been promoted to group vice president of Space Program Operations in the Space System Group. He previously was a vice president of that division. Joe Straus has been promoted to vice president. He previously was general manager of the Space-Based Surveillance Division. And Rod Gibson has been promoted to the newly created position of vice president of Systems Planning and Engineering. He previously was vice president of Orbital Systems Operations.

Apparel

Ronald D. Perrin has been named director of marketing at McGuire-Nicholas Co., which designs and manufactures consumer and professional work wear. Perrin will oversee domestic and international marketing. He previously was division manager of marketing services at Black & Decker Corp. He will be based in the City of Commerce.

Banking & Finance

Lenny Fodemski has been promoted to chief operating officer at Lockton Insurance Brokers Inc. Fodemski will oversee new business development for the company and will be based in Los Angeles. He previously was chief operating officer of the company.

Education

Eduardo Ochao has been named dean of Cal Poly Pomona’s College of Business Administration. Ochoa will be responsible for fiscal and faculty affairs, strategic planning, fund-raising and development. He previously was acting dean of the School of Business and Economics and professor in the department of economics and statistics at Cal State Los Angeles.

Entertainment

Mark Lieber has joined PolyGram Television as senior vice president. Lieber will be responsible for children’s programming. He previously was senior vice president of Domestic Distribution at Saban Entertainment. He will be based in Los Angeles.

Pia Proal has been named vice president of sales and marketing at Brilliant Digital Entertainment Inc. Proal will oversee distribution for the company’s Multipath Movies division. She previously was vice president of sales and marketing at Looking Glass Technologies Inc. She will be based in Los Angeles.

Tom Malanga has been promoted to executive vice president at MGM Worldwide Television Group. Malanga will design and oversee an internal organization structure for all of MGM’s television operating groups. He previously was vice president of finance and administration. He will be based in Santa Monica.

Eric Sandys has been promoted to senior vice president of production at Seven Arts Pictures. Sandys will oversee the development of film projects, budgeting and physical production. He previously was vice president of production. He will be based in Los Angeles.

Health Care

Dr. Randall Wetzel has joined Childrens Hospital Los Angeles as director of Critical Care Services. Wetzel will oversee administration, clinical care, education and research activities for intensive care services. He previously was chief of Pediatric Anesthesia at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

High Tech

James B. Archer has been named vice president and general manager of product development at MacNeal-Schwendler Corp., which is a supplier of mehanical computer-aided engineering solutions. Archer will oversee corporate-wide development initiatives. He previously was director of the Component and Object Software Division of IBM Corp.

Law

Steven G. Polard has joined the law firm of Perkins Coie as a partner in its commercial law and bankruptcy practice. Polard specializes in the areas of bankruptcy, workouts, creditors’ rights and banking litigation. He previously was a partner at Graham & James LLP. He will be based in Los Angeles.

Media

Lynne T. Jewell has been promoted to director of public affairs at the Los Angeles Times. Jewell will oversee expanded community outreach and public affairs programs. She previously was public affairs manager. She will be based in Los Angeles.

Public Relations

Joan Kaiser has been promoted to senior vice president at Rogers & Associates. Kaiser will oversee crisis communications for a variety of clients. She previously was vice president. In addition, the firm has also promoted three management supervisors to vice president. Manuel C. Camargo Jr. will provide strategic direction and marketing communications support to a variety of consumer electronics clients. Peggy M. Stephens will lead marketing communications teams for several health care and non-profit accounts. And Daniel B. Zukowski will head the firm’s new technologies practice.

Annabelle Stevens has been named literary unit director of the Motion Picture Division at Rogers & Cowan, an entertainment public relations consultancy. Stevens will be responsible for developing new business. She previously was president at Warren Cowan & Associates.

Real Estate

James M. O’Neil has joined Kosmont & Associates as senior vice president. O’Neil will assist public- and private-sector clients with their development and expansion plans. He previously was real estate and development services manager for the City of Burbank. He will be based in Los Angeles.

Restaurants

Michael A. Nahkunst has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer of The Cheesecake Factory Inc. In his new position, Nahkunst will oversee all restaurant operations. He previously was president of Total Entertainment Restaurant Corp. He will be based in Calabasas Hills.

Retail

Disney Consumer Products has announced a promotion and a new hire. Audrey Finci has been promoted to senior vice president of business operations, and will be responsible for the division’s global operations. She previously was vice president of operations. Eva Sage-Gavin has been named senior vice president of human resources. Sage-Gavin will be responsible for all human resource functions, which include staffing, organizational development and employee relations. She previously was vice president of corporate human resources at Taco Bell.

Tourism

Barbra Leipper has been named sales manager at Universal City Hilton and Towers. Leipper will be responsible for attracting new corporate business and maintaining relations with existing clients. She previously was sales manager at Holiday Inn Select. She will be based in Universal City.

Bruce D. Hochberger has been named director of catering and conference management at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. Hochberger will serve as liaison between the hotel and all local catering and group clientele. He previously was director of catering at the Renaissance Los Angeles Hotel.