DETROIT—Mike Levine has joined the Ford communications team in North America as truck communications manager, reporting to Said Deep, Ford product communications manager. He will lead the company’s US truck and commercial vehicle plans and programs, including the F-Series lineup, Transit Connect light van and dependable E-Series models. Levine joins from Cars.com, where he was editor of PickupTrucks.com. Prior to Cars.com, he worked for IBM, Ernst & Young and Visa USA.

NEW YORK—Alcoa, a leading producer of primary and fabricated aluminum, had added government and public affairs executive Daniel Cruise to its executive council, the company's senior leadership group and will report to Alcoa chairman and CEO Klaus Kleinfeld. Cruise joined Alcoa in October 2009 and became an officer of the company in February of this year. Prior to joining Alcoa, he was managing director of the Albright Stonebridge Group, a global business advisory group. He also served in the White House during the Clinton Administration as assistant press secretary for foreign affairs and director of public affairs for the National Security Council.

OAKLAND, CA—Joe Desmond has joined BrightSource Energy, a leading solar thermal technology company, as senior vice president of government affairs and communications. Desmond brings more than two decades of private and public energy sector experience to his role at BrightSource, where he oversees communications, marketing, and government and regulatory affairs. Prior to joining BrightSource, he served as executive vice president and chief marketing and business development officer at Ice Energy, and senior vice president of external affairs at NorthernStar Natural Gas. Desmond also served numerous executive roles under California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger including Deputy Secretary of Energy for the State Resources Agency and chairman of the California Energy Commission.

RESTON, VA—LightSquared, a wholesale-only integrated 4G-LTE wireless broadband and satellite network, has appointed Terry Neal asenior vice president of public relations and communications. Reporting to Frank Boulben, chief marketing officer, Neal will oversee earned media strategy and implementation for LightSquared. He most recently served in Hill & Knowlton’s Washington office as senior vice president/director of strategic media and earlier was managing director for The Caraway Group.

DES MOINES—Shazam, which provides electronic funds transfer services to financial institutions in 30 states, has promoted James Ghiglieri to senior vice president, corporate communications. He has served for nearly four years as vice president, corporate communications. In his new role, Ghiglieri will lead Shazam’s communication efforts, working directly with industry organizations, trade associations and media. Prior to joining Shazam, Ghiglieri was president of Alpha Community Bank in Toluca, Ill.