People Watch 09/11/12
Cable veterans Michael S. Willner and Sidney R. Knafel, who co-founded Insight Communications and served respectively as CEO and chairman for some 30 years, will invest in and lead a new media technology venture they call Penthera Partners. Willner will be CEO, and Knafel will serve as vice chairman. The company reportedly has developed a patented software engine that moves HD video between the cloud and smartphones, tablets and IP-enabled set-top boxes…A company-wide shakeup at Alcatel-Lucent resulted in a new operating model focused on core products, a strengthened sales organization and re-shaped corporate staffing. Effective Jan. 1, 2013, Paul Tufano becomes COO, with worldwide responsibility for Supply Chain, Procurement and three individual focused businesses (Enterprise, Strategic Industries and Submarine) in addition to his current role as CFO; Robert Vrij becomes president/Global Sales & Marketing; Stephen A. Carter will be president/Managed Services & executive vice president/Corporate Restructuring, overseeing the Performance Program and Corporate Marketing & Corporate Communications; and Philippe Keryer will be named president/Networks & Platforms. Four global product & services business units will comprise Core Networks, Fixed Networks, Wireless and Platforms…Robert Dunnigan joined Ikanos Communications Inc. as vice president/Operations, overseeing manufacturing processes and streamlining supply-chain functions…President Obama intends to nominate George Mason University law professor Joshua Wright, who also serves as research director and board member at the International Center for Law & Economics, to be the next Federal Trade Commission commissioner. If confirmed, he will be only the fourth economist to serve in that capacity.