The Commonwealth Bank of Australia has named Anna Lenahan as its new group general counsel and group executive for corporate affairs. Once a member of the corporate partnership at law firm Allens, Ms Lenahan joins CBA from Queensland-based financial services company Suncorp Group where she served as general counsel, chief risk officer and company secretary. Ms Lenahan’s appointment raises the presence of women in CBA’s 12-position executive leadership team to 50 per cent.

Meanwhile, professional services and investment management firm JLL has promoted Kathryn Ditmars to the role of general counsel for the Americas. Previously serving as general counsel for Latin America and Canada, Ms Ditmars will now oversee legal for the company’s US market operations. Additionally, she will act as ethics officer for the Americas and will retain her role as director of litigation. Ms Ditmar will report to JLL global GC Mark Ohringer.

A management reshuffle at US cable network Starz, former executive vice president and general counsel David Weil has been moved into the role of chief legal officer. A former partner at O’Melveny & Meyers, Mr Weil joined Starz in 2014 following a ten-year stint as chief executive officer at Walden Media/Bristol Bay Productions. In private practice, Mr Weil focused on work surrounding the creation, operation and financing of entertainment and media companies.

Michigan-based insurance holding company AF Group has named Kevin Zielke as its new senior vice president and general counsel. Leading the company’s in-house legal team, Mr Zielke will be responsible for overseeing all corporate legal matters as well as claims litigation. Prior to joining AF Group, Mr Zielke was a member of the litigation department at the Detroit office of Dykema Gossett.

Finally, Safran group general counsel Adam Smith has stepped down from his position at the helm of the aerospace, defence and security major. The announcement of Mr Smith’s resignation came in parallel with the debut of the company’s first ever legal panel, on which Eversheds, Hogan Lovells and Baker & McKenzie all secured spots. Mr Smith joined Safran two years ago after spending four years as chief compliance officer at French industrial group DCNS.