Comcast rolls TWC, Charter assets into 3-division plan ahead of merger

In preparation for what it hopes will be an FCC-approved takeover of Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC), Comcast Cable (NASDAQ: CMCSA) EVP and COO David Watson circulated an internal memo, announcing a new executive structure based on three core regions.

Pending approval of the merger, TWC's assets will move from a centralized structure to Comcast's regional architecture, according to an individual with knowledge of the reorganization. Meanwhile, cable systems from Charter Communications (NASDAQ: CHTR) would also have to be absorbed.

The actual memo, obtained by Multichannel News, is based on current organizational tentpoles: Kevin Casey oversees the MSO's Northeast division, covering 14 states and currently including 24,000 employees before the merger; Bill Connors leads the Central Division, involving 15 states; and West Division president Steve White oversees 11 states and 28,000 employees.

In his memo, Watson said some of the structure is pending FCC approval of the TWC deal, as well as the associated creation of new cable Greatland Communications.

Here is a breakdown of who is in charge of each region and what its key changes will be, based on the Multichannel report:

Central Division:

> Florida region (Amy Smith) - no changes

> Chicago division (John Crowley) - no changes

> Big South region (Doug Guthrie) - will add Charter systems in Atlanta and Macon, Ga., as well as TWC and Charter systems in Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville, Tenn.

> Carolinas region (Tim Collins) - will combine Comcast, TWC and Charter systems in the Carolina states, along with Comcast systems in Western Virginia and Savannah, Ga.

Northeast Division:

> Beltway region (Tom Coughlin) - will add several Charter systems from Maryland and Virginia.

> Freedom region (Jim Samaha) - will merge with Keystone East.

> New York City region (Steve Hackley) - will combine TWC systems in NYC and New Jersey with legacy Freedom region systems in Northern New Jersey.

> Allegheny region (TWC executive Christine Whitaker) - will combine Keystone West region with TWC systems in Buffalo and Rochester, N.Y. Will be headquartered in Pittsburgh.

> New England region (LeAnn Talbot) - formed out of the renamed Greater Boston region, with TWC and Charter systems in Eastern Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine added.

> Hudson Valley region (Mary McLaughlin) - will combine the former Western New England region with TWC and Charter systems in Albany, Binghamton, Burlington-Plattsburgh and Syracuse, N.Y.

West Division:

> California region (Hank Fore) - will add TWC and Charter systems in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, San Diego and Santa Barbara, along with Yuma, Ariz.

> Los Angeles sub region (Ralph Martinez) - created with the addition of Southern California.

> Oregon/Southwestern Washington region (Rodrigo Lopez) - will add Charter systems in Eugene, Ore.

> Washington region (Len Rozek) - will add TWC and Charter systems in Spokane, Seattle and Yakima, Wash.

> Texas region (Kyle McSlarrow) - will be created by combining the Houston region with TWC and Charter systems in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and South Texas.

> Mile High region (Rich Jennings) - will absorb the Mountain regions, adding Independence, Mo. from the Twin Cities region, along with TWC systems in Kansas City, Mo., Kansas City, Kan., as well as Omaha and Lincoln, Neb., and El Paso, Texas and Las Cruces, N.M.

> Hawaii region (Gregg Fujimoto) - created with TWC systems in the Aloha State.

For more:
- read this Multichannel News story

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