Comcast Cable Communications Inc. last week appointed ad-sales veteran Filemon Lopez as president of Comcast University, its new employee-training, education and development center.
Lopez, who has been senior vice president of ad sales at Comcast Corp. since 1995, joined the MSO in 1990 as director of ad sales after sales-management stints at Cox Communications Inc. and Storer Cable Communications.
In its announcement, Comcast said, "Lopez will lead the company's efforts to develop and foster a dynamic culture of well-trained and motivated individuals." He will also work with the MSO's field divisions to develop and implement employee-incentive and recognition programs.
Employee motivation is "so critical in our industry today," given the increased competition, Lopez said in an interview. "The payout on this is that whoever has a highly trained work force succeeds."
Lopez added, "My charge is much more than training." He intends to "continue creation of a [corporate] culture that is innovative."
To accomplish that objective, he said, "I will focus on developing a plan and program for each discipline in the company-marketing, technology, customer service and, of course, ad sales-and developing a curriculum for each."
"Comcast University will play an important role in how we introduce new products, improve customer service and succeed in a competitive marketplace," Comcast Cable president Steve Burke said in a prepared statement.
Burke praised Lopez for his "enthusiasm and passion for developing people."
Burke first announced plans for Comcast U. at the East Coast Cable '99 conference in Baltimore last October, and named Richard Petrino as dean. Petrino has since left, Lopez said.
"Quite a few" people have begun courses at Comcast U. since December, Lopez said. He will now evaluate what's been done and try to expand on it with courses due for people on different levels.
Comcast currently employs 15,000 people, but Lopez said he does not yet know how many will enroll for courses this fall.
Lopez also intends to bring in teachers from inside and outside of the company, with the latter "ideally familiar with our culture and industry."
Comcast's "campus" will be one-half of a floor in its Center City Philadelphia headquarters building, but Lopez said he also plans to have other units in the MSO's different regions.
As a former executive with The Walt Disney Co., Burke said last fall that Comcast's training program is loosely based on his experience with the Disney Stores retail chain.
Comcast had hired Roger Sverdlik as senior vice president of ad sales last fall, the same title Lopez held. Sverdlik, previously a sales executive at ABC Inc., said last month that he would focus on regional and national sales via the MSO's various interconnect ties.
Sverdlik was also Comcast's negotiator when the MSO became a partner with Cablevision Systems Corp. in the New York Interconnect, effective last month.
Lopez, who was to focus on local sales, said vice president of ad sales Harland Moidel would assume his day-to-day duties.
