Samuel Zell, as expected, was named chairman...

Samuel Zell, as expected, was named chairman of San Francisco-based Itel, succeeding the retiring Herbert Kunzel, 76.

Zell is also taking on the positions of president and chief executive, left vacant by the March 22 resignation of William P. Twomey.

The 43-year-old Zell controls about 22% of Itel’s stock and warrants. He is also chairman of Chicago-based Equity Financial & Management, a privately held real estate firm, and chairman and chief executive of Great American Management & Investment Atlanta.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY

The Los Angeles advertising agency of Eisaman, Johns & Laws announced a corporate restructuring to plan for the 1988 retirement of president and co-founder Robert F. Laws.

Dennis R. Coe and Dean R. Laws were promoted from executive vice presidents to division presidents with responsibility for the Los Angeles and Chicago offices. Both will be based in Los Angeles. Richard J. Westman, currently president of the Houston-Southwest division office, will assume additional responsibility for New York and Eastern activities.

Joe R. Eisaman and Adrienne Hall continue as chairman and vice chairman, respectively.

Earl Lestz was named president in charge of operations at Paramount Pictures’ studio group, one of three group presidents reporting directly to Paramount Chairman Frank Mancuso.

Lestz, who was promoted from senior vice president, will head operations, real estate planning and development, stage rental, merchandising and licensing and back-lot departments for the Los Angeles-based studio. Before joining Paramount he was an executive at Federated Department Stores, serving as senior vice president-operations for the Bullock’s chain.

Ted G. Rokos was named president of Coast Mortgage & Realty Investors, a wholly owned subsidiary of Coast Savings & Loan Assn., Los Angeles. The unit provides equity capital for builders.

John J. Theiss has been named president and chief executive of Quadratron Systems, Encino. He succeeds Karl Klessig, who was elevated to chairman.

SilentRadio, an electronic “newsboard” network, named William F. Foist chief operating officer and David W. Feldman vice president-sales. The company is located in Chatsworth.

Bernardine Brandis has been appointed vice president-business affairs for the motion picture division of Walt Disney Pictures, Burbank.

Bryan Birch was named senior vice president-creative director for BBDO/West, a Los Angeles advertising agency.

William C. Creasy was promoted to vice president-consumer marketing and Faye M. Kobashigawa to vice president-capital markets at First Interstate Bancorp, Los Angeles.

CALIFORNIA

Guy F. Atkinson Co. of California, based in South San Francisco, named President Thomas W. Halligan to the additional post of chief executive. He succeeds George T. McCoy, who continues as chairman. The company is a leading heavy-construction and manufacturing concern.