Irvine Co. Marketing Research Head Leaves, Won’t Be Replaced
* A. David Kovach, vice president of marketing research for the Irvine Co., is leaving the major landholder after 10 years. Kovach, 40, said he wants to pursue other opportunities in residential marketing and planning. Kovach was responsible for marketing strategies for all of the Irvine Co.’s housing developments, including the communities of Newport Coast, Tustin Ranch, Northwood and Westpark. Today is Kovach’s last day in the post. His position is not likely to be filled, but outside consultants will assume his responsibilities, sources said.
* Robert E. Wheaton has been named executive vice president of CKE Restaurants Inc., the parent company of Carl Karcher Enterprises Inc. in Anaheim. He will be responsible for corporate financings, acquisitions and franchise development. Before joining CKE, he was chief financial officer of Denny’s Inc. Before that, Wheaton was president and chief executive of the Bekins Co. and executive vice president-finance for Landstar Inc. Robert A. Wilson was appointed vice president and general counsel. He was previously senior litigation counsel with Fidelity National Title Insurance Co. in Irvine, and before that, was with the Newport Beach law firm of Stradling, Yocca, Carlson & Rauth. Also, John Calkins was named to the new position of director of strategy, responsible for the development and analysis of corporate and competitor strategy. He had been manager of business planning since joining the company in 1993.
* Greg Sieck has been named senior vice president, management director for the Orange County office of Foote, Cone & Belding. He had been vice president, management director. Before joining the advertising agency in 1991, Sieck was vice president and management supervisor for the J. Walter Thompson agency in San Francisco and New York.
* Paul LaPlante has been named vice president of facilities services for Ingram Micro Inc., a Santa Ana wholesale distributor of microcomputer products. LaPlante will be responsible for managing the planning, acquisition, leasing and construction of the company’s distribution facilities and overseeing the management of the company’s occupational health and safety and security issues. LaPlante joined Ingram Micro last year as senior director of facilities and real estate. Before that, he was vice president of administration at CalComp in Anaheim. In addition, three directors of field sales were made vice presidents. They are: Brendan Donovan, Steve Mitchell and John Vassar.
