Sandler Travis hired four lawyers from Rode & Qualey, said Sandler Travis in a press release (here). Michael O'Rourke, William Maloney and Brian Burke were hired as members in Sandler Travis' New York office and Patrick Gill joined as Of Counsel.
The Export-Import Bank announced on Jan. 6 the membership for its 2015 Advisory Committee (here). Of the 17 members appointed to the committee, two experts represent the trade sector and one represents the textile sector. Advisors for trade issues are Caroline Feund, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economic, Matthew Slaughter, Dartmouth College associate dean. John Morrison White, president of South Carolina-based Morrison Textile Machinery Company, will represent the textile sector. The other 14 members represent labor, small business, finance, manufacturing, small business, environment, services and commerce. The charter for the credit agency runs its course in June (see 1411120006). Many Democrats are pushing for the bank’s long-term renewal, while Republicans leaders, particularly in the House, have called on Congress to allow it's expiration.
Kathleen Cannon, previously the chair of Kelley Drye's International Trade and Customs practice, was named managing partner for the Washington office, the law firm said (here). Eric McClafferty, partner at the firm, will succeed Cannon as chair of the practice.
The Footwear Distributors and Retailer of America added Sue Myrick, a Republican member of Congress from North Carolina from 1995 to 2013, as a policy strategist, the association said in a press release (here). “I believe we have a moral obligation to eliminate tariffs on footwear because they are a direct hit on the pocketbooks of lower-income and middle class families – people who can least afford it," she said. "And as a former businessperson myself, I see it as an innovation tax which prevents companies from growing and creating new and higher-quality footwear. 2015 presents our best chance in a decade to pass meaningful trade legislation to eliminate these outdated tariffs. We will not miss any opportunity to tell the industry’s story with House and Senate leaders.” The group also hired Thomas Crockett, previously legislative counsel for Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., as director of government and regulatory affairs.
Maggie Smith-Ranney, vice president of operations at Coppersmith Global Logistics, will retire at the end of the year, the company said (here).
The World Shipping Council's CEO Chris Koch will retire on July 31 after 15 years in that role, the trade group said (here). John Butler, now general counsel with the WSC, will take over as CEO on Aug. 1, it said. Koch, who is moving to California, will continue as a senior adviser to the group, it said.
The Satellite Industry Association Board of Directors named Tom Stroup, previously CEO of Shared Spectrum Co., as president, the association said on Dec. 9 (here). Stroup will take over as president on Dec. 15, it said. Patricia Cooper, the previous SIA president, left in August. The SIA is a big supporter of the Obama administration’s Export Control Reform, which affects satellites.
Norbert Dentressangle named Christophe Bigot as country manager for the company's U.S. air and sea operations, the company said (here). The company, which offers import/export and customs brokerage services in the U.S., recently increased its presence in the country with its purchase of Jacobson Companies, it said.
The U.S.-China Business Council elected Ford Motor Company President Mark Fields as USCBC vice chair, the organization said on Dec. 4 (here). The USCBC also elected General Motors Company Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra as a new member of the organization’s board. Ford tapped Fields as president and Chief Executive Officer on July 1, 2014. General Motors named Barra CEO in January 2014.
John Neuffer, senior vice president for Global Policy at the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), will take over as CEO of the Semiconductor Industry Association in January, both organizations said in Dec. 2 announcements. Prior to his seven year tenure at ITI, Neuffer served as deputy assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and deputy assistant USTR for Japan. Neuffer has been a leading advocate for Information Technology Agreement expansion. The U.S. and China recently brokered a deal that both sides say will allow ITA expansion negotiations to wrap up after a year of deadlock. But Neuffer warned on Dec. 1 the outlook for concluding negotiations is not yet certain, even as ITA parties are set to meet in Geneva on Dec. 4 (see 1412020016). The Semiconductor Industry Association praised Neuffer's track record on trade and technology (here). Neuffer replaces Brian Toohey, who led the association since 2010.