Around the House

Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has appointed Maria Varsellona as general counsel. Ms Varsellona, who will be based in Germany, will report to CEO Rajeev  Suri as well as join the company’s executive board, reports telecompaper.com. She joins from Tetra Pak where, as general counsel, she was in charge of global legal operations including corporate governance and risk management.  She joins Nokia on 1 July.

Elsewhere, the group general counsel of Man Group, Stephen Ross, is to join law firm Sidley Austin as co-head of London investment funds.  He leaves after nine years at the group and six years as the group’s general counsel.

Meanwhile Florida digital media company Catalina has appointed Ira Parker as executive vice president and general counsel where he will manage the legal team and serve as a strategic adviser on domestic and international matters, according to the Fort Mill Times. He was previously executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for AOL where he managed a legal department of more than 70 lawyers.  He worked on AOL’s spin-off from Time Warner.

Other moves include the appointment of the first  general counsel for Center Bancorp. Center Bankcorp, which is the parent company of Union Center National Bank (UCNB),  has recruited Rona Korman as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of UCNB and the holding company Center Bancorp and will hold the same title for both.  Korman, who joins from Big M, will oversee  Center’s legal department and will also join the Bank’s senior management committee. She replaces UCNB lending department Vice President and Counsel Sheldon Jaffe who served in this capacity since 2008. “We are thrilled to have Rona Korman to join the UCNB team,” said President and CEO Anthony Weagley. “Rona’s strong legal and business background and reputation will be of tremendous asset to our organisation.”

In Australia BHP Billiton has appointed Geoff Healy as its new legal chief. He replaces David Williams who is returning to Ashurst Australia having spent three years at the company. And Daniela Weber-Rey is the new chief governance officer and deputy global head of compliance at Deutsche Bank from 1 July.  She joins from Clifford Chance.