Jennifer L. Weber joined The E. W. Scripps Co. as senior vice president of human resources.
Weber is responsible for guiding human resources activities as well as aligning the department’s policies and goals with the company’s strategic business objectives.
Weber comes to Scripps from Towers Perrin, a global professional services firm with offices in 25 countries. Since 2002, Weber has been managing principal of the Towers Perrin HR Services office in Cincinnati.
Weber began as a human resources consultant with Towers Perrin in 1994. While there, she developed expertise in executive compensation issues, including serving as a unit leader for the firm’s executive compensation and rewards practice for the Pittsburgh market. She became a partner in 2001 and a year later, was chosen to lead the company’s Cincinnati office. As managing principal, Weber participated in the design and implementation of rewards strategies and programs for several large clients, including Scripps, Alcoa Inc., The J. M. Smucker Co. and Fifth Third Bancorp.
She worked as an auditor for the U.S. General Accounting Office before joining Towers Perrin. Weber has a master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University. She also taught graduate-level professional speaking at Carnegie Mellon.
She is on the Leadership Council of CincyTechUSA and was chosen to participate in Leadership Cincinnati.
ASHLAND INC.
Ashland Inc. promoted Walter H. Solomon to chief growth officer, a new management position.
The position is designed to drive the company’s growth agenda following Ashland’s exit from petroleum refining and marketing.
Solomon joined Ashland in 2002 as senior vice president and general manager of the Valvoline division’s DIY retail business group, with additional responsibilities for Valvoline’s brand management.
He initiated creative marketing programs with industry giants Disney, ESPN, eBay and Evernham Motorsports, and recently oversaw creation of Ashland’s newest brand, AroMetrics.
Prior to Ashland, Solomon served 10 years in brand management with Procter & Gamble’s hair care and juice drink businesses. He also spent 10 years leading multiple privately funded start-up companies in the health care and software industries.
He received his bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Virginia.
KROGER CO.
Christopher T. Hjelm joined the Kroger Co. as senior vice president and chief information officer.
Hjelm has more than 20 years of technology leadership experience at high-growth Internet companies as well as in Fortune 500 firms.
He most recently served as chief information officer of travel distribution services at Cendant Corp. While there, he led the division’s technology strategies and was responsible for all aspects of engineering, site architecture and operations.
Hjelm previously was senior vice president for technology at eBay Inc., overseeing all aspects of technology. Under his leadership, eBay achieved record levels of site quality and reliability during a period of accelerating global business growth and new product introductions.
He also spent 14 years at Federal Express Corp., where he was senior vice president and chief information officer. At Federal Express, he was responsible for information technology planning, development, operations and revenue operations. His role included re-engineering global billing process and systems, formation of technology strategic planning and architecture, and worldwide standardization and expansion of technology services and products during a period of rapid international growth.
THE MIDLAND CO.
The Midland Co. board of directors elected Rene J. Robichaud, president and CEO of NS Group Inc., to its board. The appointment brings the number of Midland directors to 17. Robichaud joined NS Group Inc. in 1999 as president and COO. In 2000 he was promoted to president and CEO.
Prior to joining NS Group Inc., Robichaud spent more than 14 years in investment banking. He held the positions of managing director with Salomon Smith Barney and principal with Morgan Stanley & Co. He received his BBA from the University of Ottawa and his MBA from Harvard University.
Robichaud serves on the board of the Petroleum Equipment Suppliers Association.
FRISCH’S RESTAURANTS INC.
Frisch’s Restaurants Inc. appointed Matthew Carpenter COO, replacing Paul F. McFarland, who retired.
Carpenter brings 24 years of restaurant experience. He was president of Zio’s Italian Kitchens for the past two-and-a-half years and previously was vice president of operations services for Applebee’s International and an independent consultant to several restaurant companies.
FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP
First Financial Bancorp hired John Marrocco as market president to start a new Cincinnati banking market for First Financial Bank.
Marrocco comes to First Financial from PNC Bank, where he was a vice president and senior relationship manager who presided over business development and portfolio management within PNC’s corporate banking group.
As a market president for First Financial Bank, Marrocco concentrates on building a team to deliver all of First Financial’s capabilities to the market. Focusing on all aspects of corporate and consumer relationships, he works with the bank’s staff in commercial lending, real estate lending, cash management and depository services, and the branch network.
Marrocco earned his MBA with a concentration in finance and marketing at Xavier University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Denison University.
