Reshuffles see trio promoted to fill senior roles
Three high-profile in-house counsel appointments in the UK and US last month saw accountancy giant EY, publishing house HarperCollins and global investment bank BNY Mellon fill their senior general counsel (GC) roles.
EY promoted its Americas legal chief Michael Solender to global vice chair and GC, which will see him carry out a global reorganisation of the EY legal function and integrate EY’s internal legal operations worldwide.
A former partner at US law firm Arnold & Porter, Solender has served as EY’s Americas vice chair and GC since 2009.
Solender will remain based in New York, but will spend significant time with the executive team in London. He is succeeded by Ron Hauben, who previously served as deputy GC.
Solender said: ‘This opportunity comes at a pivotal time for EY as we implement our Vision 2020 plan to make EY the leading global professional services organisation.’
Elsewhere, HarperCollins announced in mid-April that its director of legal services, Simon Dowson-Collins, will take over as GC of the company’s UK arm, adding oversight of compliance and government affairs to his existing responsibilities. He will continue to report to group managing director Simon Johnson.
Johnson said: ‘Simon has led the legal and contracts teams to consistently deliver an outstanding service to our business and our authors. They are increasingly front and centre, adding huge value to our most important commercial negotiations. I’m delighted to be able to recognise the contribution Simon has made as well as formalising the additional responsibilities he has been undertaking in recent months.’
Meanwhile, BNY Mellon also last month promoted its senior deputy GC Kevin McCarthy to senior executive vice president and GC to succeed Jane Sherburne, who has decided to leave BNY Mellon to ‘consider opportunities in both the public and private sectors’.
McCarthy will report to BNY Mellon chairman and chief executive Gerald Hassell and become a member of the executive committee.
McCarthy joined BNY Mellon in 2010 from the Cowen Group, where he served as GC. From 1996 to 2004, the former Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr securities and litigation partner held several leadership roles at Credit Suisse First Boston, including global head of litigation.
On the appointment, Hassell said: ‘Kevin has worked closely with me, our board and senior management on our most critical legal and regulatory matters, and has become a trusted adviser to all of us.’
News in Brief
Le Marchant moves to JPMorgan
JPMorgan has recruited Nomura’s general counsel (GC) and head of legal and compliance for the EMEA region, Piers Le Marchant, as its new EMEA GC. Le Marchant is replacing longstanding regional GC Karen Linney, who retired in April. He joined Nomura in 2008 after spending 18 years at Lehman Brothers before the Japanese-based investment house acquired much of Lehman’s European investment banking division.
Kent Legal Services seeks JV
Kent County Council’s legal arm is seeking ‘expressions of interest’ from potential alternative business structure joint venture partners in advance of a formal procurement exercise to launch this summer as part of the council’s wider programme to raise funds.
PepsiCo’s Tullier joins Visa
PepsiCo’s deputy GC Kelly Mahon Tullier will join Visa on 16 June as executive vice president and deputy GC, transitioning into the more senior GC role within the US multinational financial services corporation from 1 October onwards.