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1991
Preston ’91 Joins HanesBrands Executive Team
Tracy Preston ’91 has been named general counsel, corporate secretary and chief compliance officer of HanesBrands, a leading global marketer of branded everyday apparel.
She will be responsible for the company’s global legal and compliance functions and will report to CEO Steve Bratspies.
“Tracy is a strategic leader with extensive experience in apparel, retail and e-commerce, and I am pleased she’s joining the HanesBrands team,” Bratspies said. “Tracy has an impressive background in major business transformations and building iconic, global brands.”
Preston previously served as executive vice president, chief legal officer, corporate secretary and chief compliance officer of The Neiman Marcus Group, and also worked for Levi Strauss & Co., where she held a number of senior legal positions, including chief counsel, global supply chain; chief compliance officer; and chief counsel, global human resources and litigation. Earlier in her career, she was a partner at Orrick Herrington and Sutcliffe, an international law firm founded in San Francisco.
Preston said HanesBrands, which has about 61,000 “passionate” employees, is committed to sustainability as it executes plans for growth.
Based in Winston-Salem, N.C., the Fortune 500 company is a leading marketer of everyday basic innerwear and activewear apparel in the Americas, Europe, Australia and Asia-Pacific. The company’s apparel brands include Hanes, Champion, Bonds, Maidenform, Bali, Playtex, L’eggs, JMS/Just My Size, Wonderbra, Berlei and Gear for Sports.
Preston holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University.
—Compiled from reports
1992
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1994
1995
Johnston ’95 Becomes Executive Producer of ‘20/20’
Janice Johnston ’95 started off the year with a promotion. She was named executive producer of the television news magazine “20/20.” Johnston is the first African American to hold the post.
“It’s not often we have the opportunity to announce a new EP for 20/20,” ABC News President James Goldston wrote to the network’s news division on Jan. 14. “Janice is only the fourth person to lead this fantastic team in nearly 43 years. She is a terrific journalist with an impressive talent for telling stories that resonate and an exceptional leader.”
Johnston has produced both hard news and entertainment specials for ABC, including last year’s two-hour broadcast on the murder of Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen and three breaking news specials on the COVID-19 pandemic. Before her work in primetime specials, she served as a producer on “Good Morning America” for about a decade. She started at ABC News as a network associate producing world news segments. The winner of Emmys and other industry awards for her work, Johnston’s assignments have taken her to a range of places, from Mount Kenya to the White House.
Prior to television, she was a litigation associate at a New York law firm, represented indigent tenants in Brooklyn Housing Court and worked as a speechwriter for former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey.
Johnston was selected to be UVA Law’s 2020 graduation speaker, but the in-person ceremony was postponed in light of the pandemic. She provided a virtual toast to students as part of an online celebration until the on-Grounds ceremony can be conducted.
—Eric Williamson
1996
1997
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1999
Ellis-Pilie ’99 Named ESPN Vice President
Rosetta Ellis-Pilie ’99 has been named ESPN vice president of talent development and negotiations.
She will lead ESPN’s Talent Office, which is responsible for hiring, developing and guiding the network’s commentator team, negotiating contracts, and collaborating with departments and external contacts on matters related to commentator roles and responsibilities.
ESPN Executive Vice President, Production and Executive Editor Norby Williamson announced the news in February.
“Rosetta is well respected at ESPN and throughout our industry,” Williamson said in a statement. “She brings relevant experience, strong leadership traits and a fresh perspective to this pivotal role. ESPN has the most skilled, diverse talent team, and Rosetta will undoubtedly drive continued success through a focus on fostering growth and hiring the best people.”
Ellis-Pilie, who joined ESPN in 2011, has worked in its legal department for nearly a decade, most recently as ESPN’s vice president and assistant chief counsel. In that role, she was instrumental in developing, negotiating and finalizing hundreds of agreements related to ESPN’s rights, content and on-air commentators.
“This is an exceptional opportunity, particularly given its importance to ESPN’s connection with sports fans and our overall business,” she said in a statement. “I am truly excited to continue to interact with colleagues across the company as well as outside contacts, many of whom I have worked closely with on projects over the past decade.”
Ellis-Pilie previously served in the U.S. Army and is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm. She participated in The Walt Disney Co.’s “Heroes Work Here” campaign, which helps hire, train and support military veterans entering the civilian workforce. She was featured in the program’s national ad campaign, moderated a related panel, and appeared on “The View.”
Ellis-Pilie has also represented ESPN and The Walt Disney Co. on various industry initiatives and panels, and served as a final round judge for the Robert F. Wagner National Labor and Employment Law Moot Court Competition. Among her honors, she was recognized in 2016 by Savoy Magazine as one of the Top 100 Influential Women in Corporate America.
Before joining ESPN, Ellis-Pilie led the domestic and international labor and employment law practice for Sun Chemical Corp. and was a labor and employment associate at McDermott, Will & Emery and at Proskauer Rose.
—Compiled from reports