NewLeaf Symbiotics, the St Louis Missouri-based agricultural biologicals company engaged in discovery, development, production, and commercialization of biological products, has appointed Molly Edwards as vice president and general counsel. Ms Edwards was previously at the Monsanto Company, and brings more than 14 years of legal experience. In her role, Edwards will manage all legal matters including the company's overall Intellectual Property (IP) strategy and continued commercialization of its Terrasym trademarked product.

Facilities management company Sodexo, based in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France, has appointed Angelo Piccirillo as group general counsel. Starting 1 September 2018, Piccirillo has assumed responsibility for the global transversal legal function, including group and regional legal teams.  He succeeds Bob Stern who retired last month after 33 years of service with the company. Prior to this role, Mr Piccirillo was general counsel for global client contracts, MED (Mediterranean) region, and corporate services segment, worldwide, at Sodexo. Before joining Sodexo, he worked for leading multinationals in the oil and gas industry, and law firms. Mr Piccirillo is an Italian national who resides in France.

Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, has named Patricia Vercelli as its new senior vice president, general counsel and secretary. Ms Vercelli will be responsible for the association's legal and corporate governance, overseeing the General Counsel's office and providing corporate secretary functions. She brings to the association more than 20 years of experience in the airline financial services industry, most recently with the Universal Air Travel Plan (UATP). Ms Vercelli will be responsible for the association's legal and corporate governance, overseeing the General Counsel's office and providing corporate secretary functions.

Montreal-based Bombardier, a multinational aerospace and transportation company, has announced the retirement of senior vice president and general counsel Daniel Desjardins, effective December 31, 2018. Mr Desjardins will be succeeded by Alain Rondeau, who has been appointed Senior Vice President, Legal Services, effective immediately. Over the next four months, Mr Desjardins will focus on a smooth transition of responsibilities to Mr Rondeau, who will replace him as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary effective January 1st 2019. Following his retirement, Mr Desjardins will continue to serve as a special advisor to Alain Bellemare and assume the role of Chairman of Bombardier Transportation's board of directors. Mr Rondeau, who has been working as a consultant for Bombardier for the past year, brings more than 30 years of high-level legal and aerospace experience. He served as Vice President, Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Pratt & Whitney Canada for 21 years, where he was responsible for leading a global team of more than 70 legal professionals.

Bob Smith has been appointed senior vice president and general counsel at Phoenix-based energy company Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and its primary subsidiary Arizona Public Service Company. Mr Smith reports to Jeff Guldner, Executive Vice President of Public Policy, and oversees the Pinnacle West Law Department and Office of the Corporate Secretary. He succeeds Mr Guldner, who, in addition to his current role, served as General Counsel for more than a year. Mr Smith has over 20 years of legal experience in the energy industry, most recently serving as senior vice president and general counsel at Columbia Pipeline Group, where he led the company's legal affairs and several major strategic initiatives.

Newark-based Panasonic Corporation of North America has appointed Jessica Hodkinson as general counsel and secretary of Panasonic Corporation of North America, reporting to Tom Gebhardt, chairman and CEO Panasonic Corporation of North America. Ms Hodkinson joined Panasonic in 2013 as assistant general counsel, then moved into the role of chief counsel - litigation, labor and employment. She was promoted to deputy general counsel in April 2018, and was appointed interim general counsel this summer. Prior to joining Panasonic, she held in-house roles at Avaya, Pfizer, and American Standard Companies. Ms Hodkinson will lead and manage all aspects of the company's legal function including, compliance, litigation, labor and employment, corporate governance and mergers and acquisitions.