BellSouth reshuffles at the top

BellSouth announced Monday that it has made changes to its top management team, placing more of its operations under Vice Chairman Gary Forsee. The telecommunications carrier hopes the new structure, effective Jan. 1, will enable the Atlanta-based company to take advantage of current business conditions. Forsee will oversee domestic operations of the company's retail and wholesale markets, which include units such as customer markets, network services, regulatory and external affairs, and advertising and publishing. The company also announced the retirement of Network Services President Charlie Coe and Vice Chairman Jere Drummond, who directed the public relations, advertising, brand management, and regulatory and external affairs divisions. Ralph de la Vega, president of broadband and Internet services, will become president of the company's Latin America operations. The network vice president for Georgia operations, Richard Burns, will assume de la Vega's old position. Forsee will continue to serve as board chairman of Cingular Wireless.