James G. Held was named president and chairman of the Shop At Home television retailing network and its online retail business, shopathometv.com.
Held also is a minority investor in the Shop At Home business, which is owned and operated by The E.W. Scripps Co.
“Our vision for Shop At Home has been to create an innovative interactive commerce business that fully benefits from the tremendous popularity of our lifestyle television networks,” says Kenneth W. Lowe, president and CEO of Scripps. “By forging this important new partnership with a respected brand-building executive like Jim Held, we’re demonstrating our mutual belief that there are significant opportunities for growth at Shop At Home.”
During the 1990s, Held worked for four years as president and CEO at HSN, leading the business to profitability and establishing it as one of America’s top home-shopping television networks. He had a similar role at QVC, serving two years as executive vice president.
Held was also president and CEO of Adrienne Vittadini Inc., a designer wholesale, retail and manufacturing company. Prior to Adrienne Vittadini, he worked at Bloomingdales for more than 12 years in merchandising and management positions. Most recently, he was acting CEO of SmartBargains Inc., an online retailer of discounted branded consumer products.
Held graduated from Allegheny College and holds a law degree from Albany Law School at Union University.
E.W. SCRIPPS CO.
Tim Peterman was named senior vice president of interactive media for E.W. Scripps Co.
Peterman oversees the company’s development as one of the country’s leading operators of interactive media businesses. He also has corporate responsibility for Shopzilla and Shop At Home, the two interactive media subsidiaries he helped bring in to the company while serving as vice president of corporate development.
Peterman was named vice president of corporate development in 2002. He came to Scripps after working three years at USA Networks, now named Interactive Corp., first as chief financial officer of the broadcast division and then as CFO of the cable television network division.
Prior to Interactive Corp., Peterman held senior financial management positions at Sinclair Communications Inc. and Tribune Co., where he spent seven years in the broadcast and entertainment divisions. He began his career as a senior auditor for Peat Marwick in Chicago.
Peterman, a certified public accountant, graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
HUNTINGTON BANK
Huntington Bank hired Jay Rush as vice president, commercial sales executive.
With 12 years of banking experience, Rush works to help middle-market customers with their banking relationship.
He serves as an executive committee board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati. and participates in the executive mentoring program for Xavier University.
Carl Thibodeau was appointed banking officer and banking office manager at Huntington’s Montgomery office. Thibodeau transferred from Huntington’s Fourth Street banking office, where he worked as a personal banker for more than two years.
Danielle Siffel was appointed banking office manager at Huntington’s Fort Mitchell office. Offering 10 years of financial industry experience, Siffel worked as assistant vice president banking office manager of Huntington’s Montgomery office for more than two years.
Kathy Bolender was appointed assistant vice president and banking office manager at Huntington’s Rookwood office. Bolender has 20 years of banking experience including: wealth management, business development, trust services and bank management.
POWERS AGENCY
Powers Agency promoted Angie Smith to senior art director.
Smith joined Powers in 1998 as an art director. Her work with the agency was honored in 2000 with a silver Addy Award.
Before joining Powers, she worked as a graphic designer for Michel Tire Co. and Western & Southern Financial Group. Smith earned her bachelor’s degree in art from Miami University.
FIFTH THIRD BANK
Fifth Third Bank appointed Bruce R. Hrovat director of the company’s central operations division.
Hrovat most recently worked as senior vice president of Bank of America’s National Teller Process and Operations. His career includes nearly 20 years of experience in operations management and financial management in the United States and in Europe for Sunbeam Products Inc. and Tenneco Automotive Inc.
Hrovat earned a bachelor of science degrees in petroleum engineering and economics from Marietta College. He is involved in Catholic Charities USA and United Way.
FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP
Richard Barbercheck was hired as chief risk officer for First Financial Bancorp.
Barbercheck comes from Irwin Financial Corp. in Columbus, Ind., where he managed its credit risk evaluation group. He has 24 years of banking experience, including commercial lending and credit administration. He also was president of a small bank in Indiana from 1993 until 1998.
Barbercheck graduated from Southern Illinois University and earned his master’s degree at Purdue University. In addition to completing the Graduate School of Banking, he is a graduate of the Agricultural Bankers School and serves on its teaching staff.
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