AUTOMOTIVE
Don Swearingen, Mitsubishi Motors North America executive vice president and chief operating officer, announced his retirement, effective June 1. He’ll help with the transition between Mitsubishi’s newly appointed president and chief executive, Fred Diaz, and outgoing President and Chief Executive Ryujiro Kobashi. Swearingen spent 21 years of his 40-year automotive-industry career at Mitsubishi. He was named to his current roles in 2013 and helped return the automaker to profitability in 2014.
— Subrina Hudson
EDUCATION
University of California-Irvine Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Thomas Parham will leave his role this year to become president of California State University-Dominguez Hills. His UCI tenure has spanned 33 years. He became vice chancellor in 2011 after serving as interim vice chancellor the previous year. Parham is a nationally known psychologist and UCI alumnus who’s authored six books and more than 45 journal articles and book chapters.
— Subrina Hudson
HEALTHCARE
Providence St. Joseph Health and Ascension ended talks on a merger that would’ve resulted in the biggest U.S. hospitals owner, according to news reports. Both are nonprofit hospital systems, Ascension the largest in the country. The Wall Street Journal reported that people familiar with the discussions said they were put on hold because more healthcare is shifting to nonhospital settings, pressuring the systems’ core operations. The sources said merger talks, if they resumed, wouldn’t come soon. Washington-based Providence includes the former St. Joseph Health that was based in Irvine.
— Hannah Mitchell
Fujifilm Holdings plans to buy two cell-culture media businesses owned by Japanese oil and metals conglomerate JXTG Holdings for about $800 million. The companies—Santa Ana-based Irvine Scientific and IS Japan Co. Ltd.—will be incorporated into Fujifilm’s existing contract manufacturing business unit in a deal slated to close by June. The buy will bolster Fujifilm’s presence in biotechnology, including regenerative medicine. Its healthcare business is comprised mainly of medical diagnostics and imaging devices.
— Sherry Hsieh
MANUFACTURING
Gregg Beall was named chief technology officer, a newly created role, of Foothills Ranch-based skincare and cosmetics company SeneGence International, responsible for overseeing all technical aspects of the company and growing its information technology resources. He previously served in senior leadership roles at companies such as Irvine-based Arbonne International LLC and Live Nation Entertainment.
— Subrina Hudson
RESTAURANTS
Anaheim White House Restaurant owner Bruno Serato, who also operates the Catarina’s Club nonprofit to feed children from low-income families, will be inducted into the Ellis Island Honors Society at a May 12 ceremony. The group awards individuals for accomplishments in their fields and for their service to society. Serato immigrated to the U.S. from his native Italy. He joins others on the Business Journal’s OC 500 who’ve received the award, including Paul Musco and Emile Haddad.
— Hannah Mitchell
