Cox names new Las Vegas general manager

Kevin Rademacher

Thursday, Jan. 13, 2005 | 10:55 a.m.

Cox Communications has a new boss in charge of its Las Vegas operations.

Leo Brennan was moved from the company's Orange County, Calif., system to take over in Las Vegas, Cox's largest cable system. He took the reins as region vice president and general manager Wednesday morning, less than 24 hours after former general manager Mark Lipford left, said Steve Schorr, a Las Vegas spokesman for Cox.

Schorr said the decision between Cox and Lipford to part ways was "mutual and amicable."

"The decision was really made between Mr. Lipford and the company that he was going to seek another position within the industry," Schorr said. "During three years here Mr. Lipford took the system to another level. To go to the next level there needed to be another direction."

Lipford could not be reached for comment.

In Orange County, Brennan was in charge of the first Cox system to roll out the complete package of high-speed Internet service, video service and telephone service. For years, local Cox executives have said they plan to offer telephone service in Las Vegas. Schorr said Brennan's experience should bolster those plans.

"We have made it clear that we believe that the technology will be there in the future to allow us to roll out telephone service here," Schorr said. "Having a background like his is a good one to have."

Schorr said that Cox is currently investing about $100 million annually in the Las Vegas system in order to keep up with technology. He said such a commitment is necessary to satisfy consumers growing demand for access to information. Schorr pointed to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week which highlighted the rapid development of the industry.

"As you saw at CES, telecommunications is growing so rapidly that you really need to put together all those things that the consumers are demanding," he said. "Mr. Brennan has an in-depth knowledge of technology."