Corporate Moves
- Hughes Electronics Corp. elevates Bob Marsocci to VP of corporate communications. He will retain his position as director of comms for DirecTV Inc., a Hughes subsidiary.
Marsocci replaces George Jamison, who was named VP of communications at United Technologies Corp. - Charlene Fern, former speechwriter for First Lady Laura Bush, becomes director of executive communications at Merck & Co.
- Rebecca Novak-Tibbitt joins Purdue Pharma as manager of public affairs. Novak-Tibbitt was a VP with GCI Group.
- MetLife hires David Monfried as SVP of corporate comms. Monfried was VP of communications at the St. Paul Cos. in Saint Paul, Minn.
Agency Moves
- Burson-Marsteller names Andrew Nibley chairman of Marsteller, its advertising, event management and interactive unit. Nibley was with Vivendi Universal ... The agency also
appoints Sarah Lora, a former Telemundo news anchor, manager of the U.S. Hispanic practice in Texas.