Around the house

US President Barack Obama is expected to announce his nomination for the post of Attorney General after the mid-term elections on 4 November - but one of the most likely candidates has ruled herself out. Kathryn Ruemmler, a former White House Counsel, has said that she does not want to take over from the current incumbent Eric Holder who is ready to stand down when a replacement is found. Ms Ruemmler is thought to have been the president’s first choice for the post. But she could have faced difficulties being approved by the Senate. 

John Davidson, currently company secretary and legal head at SABMiller, is to take on the communications brief when Catherine May, director of corporate affairs, leaves at the end of this month. Mr Davidson will relinquish the role of company secretary at the brewer. His new job title will be general counsel and corporate affairs director. CEO Alan Clark said: ‘Combining legal, communications, regulatory affairs and sustainability into one integrated function under John Davidson, reporting directly to me, will serve our business better in a changing legal and regulatory environment.’ Stephen Shapiro, now deputy company secretary and deputy GC, takes on the company secretary role. 

Heather Mallard has been named as GC for Concord Hospitality, responsible for the strategic and tactical legal matters at the company. She is an experienced negotiator and contracts lawyers, and most recently was GC and corporate secretary at the NASDAQ-listed Acorn Energy. 

NASDAQ-listed Infinera, a provider of intelligent transport networks, has announced that James Laufman has joined as GC and corporate secretary. He comes from Marvell Semiconductor where he also held the post of GC. 

Aircastle Limited, a company which specialises in the selling and leasing of commercial jets to airlines around the globe, has appointed Christopher Beers as GC. Alex Green, who had been acting as GC on an interim basis, will become associate GC. Mr Beers comes from GE Capital where he held various senior posts over a period of 14 years. 

Steve Bene has been named as GC for internet audio service Pandora. He also joins the Pandora executive leadership team. He was formerly GC at Electronic Arts and had previously been an associate at Fenwick & West LLP.