AST Research Puts Ex-Apple Official in Charge of Asian Region
* Michael Willcocks has joined AST Research Inc., an Irvine personal computer manufacturer, as senior vice president of the company’s Asia Pacific region and an officer responsible for all sales, marketing and service and support activities in the Asia Pacific region. Willcocks was previously vice president for worldwide enterprise and government marketing and vice president for global accounts at Apple Computer. Before that, he was general manager, Northern Europe operations at Interleaf Inc. At Wang Laboratories, he served in various positions, including director, worldwide operations.
* Marc S. Franklin, James T. Morris and Gerald W. Robinson have been named senior vice presidents of Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Co. in Newport Beach. Franklin is senior vice president for finance and administration of the annuities business unit. Morris is in charge of business relations with M Financial Group, a life insurance producer group that designs and markets individual life insurance products in collaboration with Pacific Mutual. Robinson, who joined Pacific Mutual in 1982, is senior vice president for annuities. In addition, James R. Rice has been appointed vice president for product design for the individual insurance unit.
* John Funk has purchased Skyline Displays of Orange County, a regional distributor for Skyline Displays Inc., a manufacturer of show displays and graphics. Funk, a nine-year employee of the company, was most recently vice president of sales. Former owner Ken Wolf will continue as a design consultant.
* Charles A. Haggerty has joined the board of directors of Beckman Instruments Inc. in Fullerton. He is chairman, resident and chief executive of Western Digital Corp. He succeeds Henry Wendt, managing partner of the Finisterre Fund, who has resigned. He had been on the board since Beckman became public in 1988, and served as chairman in 1988 and 1989.
* Lou Franson has been named vice president of marketing for Del Taco, the Orange-based fast food company. He succeeds Paul W. Hitzelberger, who last year was appointed executive vice president, franchise development/relations and brand strategy. Franson was formerly vice president of marketing for El Pollo Loco.
* Glenn Hodson has been appointed director of catering for the Sutton Place Hotel in Newport Beach. He was formerly director of catering at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Anaheim. Hodson also has been director of catering at the Registry Hotel in Irvine, the Newporter Resort in Newport Beach and the Radisson Plaza Hotel Orange County Airport in Irvine.
* Donald A. Kaul has joined Dorsey & Whitney law firm as a partner in its Washington and Costa Mesa offices. Kaul was formerly a partner with Brownstein & Zeidman, P.C. in Washington, D.C.
* Carol Peskoe Schaner and Sara Schwab Trask have been named partners at the Orange County branch office of the law firm of Berger, Kahn, Shafton, Moss, Figler, Simon & Gladstone.
* Dick Ward has been appointed director of marketing for William & Scott Brewing Co. in Huntington Beach. He will have brand marketing responsibilities for Rhino Chasers beer. Ward’s previous experience includes nine years as principal of his own advertising and public relations agency.
* Martin Loth has been named area president of the Irvine office of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Insurance Brokers of California. He joined the company in November as executive vice president in charge of property / casualty insurance operations. Before that, Loth was president and chief executive of Jardine Insurance Co.’s Orange County operations.
* Martha McKinley has been appointed vice president of Porter / Novelli in Irvine, a public relations firm. McKinley, who had been management supervisor, currently manages the Kia Motors America account.
