* SureWest promotes Sommers, Bessey
By Mike Robuck

SureWest Communications announced some changes to its management team yesterday. Scott Sommers was named to the newly-created position of senior vice president, finance and corporate development effective March 18.

Roseville, Calif.-based SureWest also announced the appointment of Dan Bessey as vice president, chief financial officer, which is also effective March 18. Bessey succeeds Philip Grybas, who resigned to purse other interests, according to SureWest. In order to ease the transition, Grybas has agreed to work through the end of the month for SureWest, which is a triple play provider.

* Succession at the top at Ixia
By Brian Santo

Ixia has promoted Atul Bhatnagar to CEO, succeeding Errol Ginsberg, who will continue to serve as chairman of the board and assume a new role at the company as chief innovation officer.

Ginsberg will lead the newly-formed Ixia Labs, which will be responsible for advanced engineering to help drive organic growth in new product areas.

Bhatnagar has been president and chief operating officer of the company since September 2007. As CEO and president, he will continue to be responsible for the company’s day-to-day operations and long-term strategy. Prior to joining Ixia, Bhatnagar was with Hewlett-Packard and Nortel.

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