Swett & Crawford Names President-COO
* Thomas M. Comer has been named president and chief operating officer of Woodland Hills-based Swett & Crawford Group, one of the largest wholesale insurance brokerages. He succeeds Dave Hartoch, who was recently named chairman and chief executive of Swett & Crawford.
* Virgin Cola Co. (USA) named Bob O’Brien managing director, a key position overseeing Britain-based Virgin Cola’s U.S. operations. O’Brien previously served as general manager of the premium beverages division at Dr Pepper/Seven-Up, a subsidiary of Cadbury Schweppes.
O’Brien will report to the worldwide chief executive of Virgin Cola, Paul Steele. Virgin Cola (USA), based in Los Angeles, also named Paul Musselman the new vice president of sales. Musselman was previously vice president of Original New York Seltzer, where he was responsible for all aspects of product distribution and sales.
* Intertainer, a Culver City-based broadband network provider of entertainment services on demand, has named Lauren de la Fuente senior vice president of marketing. She will oversee Intertainer’s marketing department and manage all consumer and trade advertising programs and corporate communications. She previously served as vice president of off-air creative affairs for both USA Networks and SciFi Channel.
* Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. has promoted Hank Cohen to president of its television entertainment division, where he will oversee TV development and production. He previously had been executive vice president of creative affairs. The Santa Monica-based studio also promoted Jim Griffiths to president of worldwide television distribution. He succeeds Sid Cohen, who is now a consultant to the studio. All three execs will report to MGM Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer Chris McGurk.
