Witness Systems named Bill Robinson senior vice president of the Americas, giving him responsibility over operations in both North America and Latin America. He will work from the company’s headquarters in Atlanta to manage sales, channels, customer support, alliances and field marketing in his appointed region.
Robinson joined Witness Systems, a provider of performance optimization software and services, in July 2004. Prior to that, he served at Actuate Corp., where he was vice president of North American operations. There, he oversaw sales, services, alliances and field marketing functions. Before that, Robinson worked at Business Objects in various capacities, including as vice president of North American channels and vice president of North American sales. He has also worked for Cognos, Group 1 Software and Triad Systems Corp. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor of science degree in marketing.
EQUIFAX
Equifax hired Robert J. Webb as chief technology officer. Webb replaces Owen Flynn, who will remain with the company in an undisclosed leadership position. Webb’s new duties include managing the company’s global technology infrastructure, including research, intellectual property and technology relationships.
Prior to joining Equifax, Webb worked at General Electric in various leadership positions, most recently as managing director of Canadian Vendor Financing, but also as chief technology officer for divisions such as Global Consumer Finance group in Japan and Atlanta-based GE Power Systems (now GE Energy). Prior to that, he was a consultant in Asia with Electronic Data Systems and Andersen Consulting.
GEORGIA POWER
Ronald D. Brown was elected to Georgia Power’s board of directors. Brown is president and CEO of Atlanta Life Financial Group, a privately owned financial services group moving into its 100th year of business. He assumed CEO responsibilities in 2004 after serving on the board of directors for two years.
Brown graduated from Morehouse College with an undergraduate degree in political science and from Columbia University’s Financial Management program. He served as CEO for The Variant Group, SYNAVANT and IMSH Strategic Technologies before joining Atlanta Life. He is also a director of the Emory Hospital Visitors Committee and a trustee of the African-American Experience Fund.
LORD, BISSELL & BROOK LLP
Lord, Bissell & Brook LPP hired Michael V. Coleman as partner in the corporate department. Coleman is a former city attorney who served under former Mayor Maynard Jackson. He represented the city during the negotiation of several agreements in connection with the 1996 Olympics and during the development and financing of Atlantic Station. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, real estate development, government/business transactions, municipal finance and business litigation.
Coleman received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law and is a member of the Vanderbilt Law School Alumni Board, as well as a board member of the Metropolitan YMCA.
Lord, Bissell & Brook LLP also hired Jon A. Neiditz as of counsel, with a focus on e-commerce and health law. He serves as chairman of the board of directors of the Atlanta Regional Health Forum and as general counsel to one of the four remaining African-American-run nonprofit hospitals in the country. Neiditz graduated from Yale Law School with a J.D. degree in 1985.
FIDELITY SOUTHERN CORP.
H. Palmer Proctor Jr. was named to the Fidelity Southern Corp. board. He is president of Fidelity Bank and will implement a new plan for growth in the Atlanta area.
Proctor has served Fidelity in many capacities, including as manager of branch administration, operations, mortgage and investment services and as senior vice president of commercial lending. He graduated from Auburn University and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Georgetown University. He has served as chairman of the Callanwolde Foundation and on the board of the Frazer Center.
HANSEN GRAY & CO. INC.
Hansen Gray & Co. Inc., a public venture capital firm, appointed Hans Kempers to its advisory board. Kempers has served as president of Ahold Real Estate, chairman of Noro Realty Advisors of Atlanta, managing director of the Noro Group of the Netherlands and a member of the supervisory board of HomeBanc.
