Enterprise blockchain company R3 has reorganised its management team after the departure of general counsel Lauren Carroll. The general counsel’s office is now under the leadership of Charley Cooper, R3’s managing director, business development and marketing. Mr Cooper is a qualified lawyer who previously worked at Kirkland & Ellis and held a legal role at Deutsche Bank.

Pier 1 Imports has recruited Robert Bostrom as executive vice president, chief legal and compliance officer and corporate secretary. He succeeds Michael Carter,who retired from Pier 1 last year. Mr Bostrom previously worked at Abercrombie & Fitch, where he was senior vice president and special counsel.

Tennant Company, which makes robotic cleaning machines, has appointed Mary Talbott as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. She was previously vice president, assistant general counsel and assistant corporate secretary for General Cable Corporation in Kentucky and vice president of law at Macy’s.

Specialty materials company Celanese Corporation has appointed Lynne Puckett as senior vice president and general counsel, effective February 13, 2019. She will join Celanese after spending more than eight years at Colfax Corporation where she was senior vice president, general counsel and secretary. The Dallas-firm produces chemistry and specialty materials-based products used in most major industries and consumer applications.

Laurel Krueger has been named vice president and general counsel of Kontoor Brands, the independent, publicly traded company resulting from the separation of VF Corporation’s jeans-wear organization. The new company will comprise the Wrangler, Lee and Rock & Republic brands, and the VF Outlet business.

Alliant Insurance Services, an independent US insurance brokerage firm, has named in-house counsel Jennifer Baumann as its new general counsel and corporate secretary. She takes the role on from longtime general counsel Ken Zak, who is retiring following 11 years leading Alliant’s legal team. Her core responsibilities now include oversight of M&A, regulatory compliance, intellectual property, litigation and equity.

NYSE-listed Adtalem Global Education has appointed Stephen Beard, senior vice president and the company’s general counsel, to the expanded position of COO and general counsel. He joined Adtalem in February 2018, overseeing the education provider’s global legal, governance, risk and security matters. In his expanded role, he now also leads the company’s strategy and innovation, corporate development and investor relations activities.

Humana, a health and well-being company, has announced the promotion of Joseph Ventura to general counsel. He succeeds Christopher Todoroff, who has announced his retirement after a career in corporate law that spans three decades, including the past 10 years with Humana as general counsel and chief legal officer. Mr Ventura joined Humana as legal counsel in 2009, serving most recently as senior vice president, associate general counsel and corporate secretary. The two counsel will work together over the next several months to ensure a smooth transition, during which time Todoroff will serve as special counsel to the company.

Calyxt Inc, a consumer-centric, food- and agriculture-focused company, has appointed Debra Frimerman as general counsel, effective February 11, 2019. She was previously associate general counsel for Syngenta North America, as well as acting general counsel for Syngenta Seeds.

Approved Oil Co, a New York based full service energy company, has announced Robert Ross has been named general counsel and chief legal officer.  He will also serve as a member of the company's executive committee, He joined the company at the start of the year and will report directly to Vincent Theurer, the company's President and CEO. Most recently, Mr Ross served as general counsel at W16 Energy.