One of the cable industry's highest-ranking female operating executives, Cox
Communications Inc. executive vice president of operations Margaret Bellville,
has resigned her position effective Feb. 2. Senior vice president of operations
Patrick Esser will replace her.
'I've accomplished what I set out to do, and I am ready to explore new
challenges facing other organizations that are looking for a creative business
approach, a mentoring leadership style and positive energy for success,'
Bellville said in a prepared statement.
Many industry observers have speculated that Bellville would take the fall
after the MSO reported disappointing second-quarter cash-flow growth, in part
due to increased competition from Qwest Communications International Inc. in its
Phoenix market. Cox subsequently replaced most of its Phoenix regional
management as a result.
Bellville came to Cox in 1995 and assumed her most recent position in 1999.
She helped to develop the MSO's entry into the high-speed-data, digital-video
and residential-telephony markets.
In November, industry group Women in Cable & Telecommunications named
Bellville 'Woman of the Year.'
'Maggie was responsible for a number of positive cultural changes during her
tenure here, including a more competitive mind-set and the addition of a robust
sales component to our traditionally strong customer-service orientation,' Cox
president and CEO James Robbins said in a prepared statement. 'She should be
very proud of her work here, and I expect her influence to be felt for years to
come.'
