AUTOMOTIVE
Cypress-based automaker Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. said Mark Chaffin will succeed Don Swearingen as chief operating officer. Chaffin will report to newly minted President and Chief Executive Fred Diaz. He previously served as vice president of fixed operations after joining the company in 2007 as director of parts operations. Swearingen will remain with Mitsubishi in an advisory role until his retirement in June.
— Subrina Hudson
EDUCATION
Kathleen Burke was named chancellor of the South Orange County Community College District, effective July 1, succeeding interim chancellor Ann-Marie Gabel. She’ll be responsible for operations for a district that includes Saddleback College. She received her doctorate of education from Pepperdine University.
— Subrina Hudson
FRANCHISING
Home Franchise Concepts promoted Jonathan Thiessen from vice president of franchise licensing to chief development officer, a new position. Irvine-based HFC is best-known for its Budget Blinds franchise system. It also has home-organizing service Tailored Living and a decorative stone-work franchise Concrete Craft. Thiessen is tasked with taking HFC to $700 million in systemwide sales this year, a 16% year-over-year increase that it said will likely come in part by buying brands.
— Paul Hughes
HEALTHCARE
Allergan PLC Chief Executive Brent Saunders told investors the company is evaluating a range of strategic options, including “splitting the company.” Dublin-based Allergan has a large base in Irvine but has reduced local operations over the past two years. Saunders said options it’s exploring include aggressively buying back shares; divestures; acquisitions or mergers; and continuing running the company as is. Its Irvine-based U.S. Specialized Therapeutics unit continues to be its highest contributing margin segment, growing 6.5% to nearly $1.6 billion.
— Sherry Hsieh
INSURANCE
Costa Mesa-based life insurance planning firm Tippett Moorhead & Haden Insurance Services LLC was acquired by Alera Group, a national employee benefits, property and casualty, risk management and wealth management firm, on undisclosed terms.
— Peter J. Brennan
LAW
Judge Andrew Guilford ruled that a third trial on insider trading charges can proceed against healthcare executive Jim Mazzo, saying the court is obligated to deny defense motions, though the first two cases ended in hung juries. He cited a 1993 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in United States v. Miller, writing, “the fact that a jury was hung by a six to six vote, or by one even more favorable to the defendant, is not an adequate basis for dismissal under the court’s supervisory powers.” Mazzo was founding chief executive of Advanced Medical Optics in Santa Ana, which was bought by healthcare-giant Abbott Laboratories in 2009. — Pete Weitzner
NONPROFITS
Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization Chrysalis is taking its first step outside of Los Angeles County as it seeks a new office in Anaheim. The organization provides employment resources and support to homeless and low-income people. Though it’s still identifying a location, it said it plans to open the new space in the fall.
— Subrina Hudson
RESTAURANTS
Irvine-based Yogurtland signed current franchisee Yang Group to expand the chain in Dallas-Fort Worth with up to eight locations in three years. The family currently runs nine sites of the frozen yogurt chain in Southern California, Arizona and Texas. Yogurtland has 320 locations in the U.S. and overseas.
— Paul Hughes
