Home entertainment company Virgin Media has completed an overhaul of its executive following its £15bn acquisition by Liberty Global in 2013, announcing Mine Hifzi as its general counsel (GC).
Hifzi was previously senior vice president of commercial and legal affairs for Scripps Networks Interactive, where she held a combined business development, commercial strategy and legal role. She also spent 14 years heading up the international legal and government affairs team at Discovery Communication, and prior to that worked in senior positions at Turner Broadcasting System Europe and United International Pictures.
As GC, Hifzi will report directly to chief executive Tom Mockridge on Virgin Media’s executive board.
Her appointment follows the resignation of former GC Scott Dresser in 2012. During Liberty’s takeover last year, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson corporate partner Robert Mollen advised Virgin Media as acting GC, assisted by director of corporate development and assistant GC Caroline Withers, whose role in the takeover led to her selection and inclusion in Legal Business GC Power List: Rising Stars for 2014.
Mockridge said: ‘Mine brings great wealth of industry experience to this strategically important position. I am pleased to welcome her to a leadership team, drawn from within Virgin Media, Liberty Global and beyond, which has extensive international telecommunications and media experience. Together, as part of Liberty Global, we are building on the momentum of 2013 as we position ourselves for future growth.’
Meanwhile, one of the best-known names in the dieting world, Weight Watchers, announced in March that it has appointed Michael Colosi as its GC and company secretary from 19 May.
Colosi joins after 14 years with American fashion house Kenneth Cole Productions, where he was senior vice president and GC.
He will report to president and chief executive Jim Chambers and will serve as a member of the New York-based company’s executive committee.
Previously the role of GC was held by former Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher lawyer Jeffrey Fiarman, who joined IDEXX Laboratories in May last year.
Weight Watchers vice president and assistant GC, Richard Reade, who is based in the company’s Maidenhead office in the UK and focuses primarily on legal work in Europe and Australasia, will now report to Colosi.
Law firms to have advised Weight Watchers in Europe include Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Osborne Clarke.
Chambers said: ‘Michael fills a critical role on the executive committee. His analytical background, judgement and experience across a wide range of legal, operational and executive responsibilities will make him a trusted strategic adviser and partner for me and the rest of the executive committee as we continue to transform the company.’