BankBlackwell, which hopes to be the first African American-owned Internet bank, received deposit insurance approval from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., clearing its last major regulatory hurdle. The approval clears the way for the bank’s organizers to focus on raising funds through its $17.5 million public offering, says James R. Mundy, president and chief executive. Mundy also named former ambassador to Tanzania Charles R. Stith, attorney Vesper Gibbs Barnes, and accountant Daniel Dennis to the board of directors. — Philana Patterson

Former Deere & Co. senior executive Pierre E. Leroy, another 2005 BE Top 75 executive, assumed a key role by joining the Capital One board of directors in September. Leroy sits on the board’s Audit and Risk Committee. “Overall, I hope to bring my experience to the table as a valuable, contributing participant in the board’s oversight and partnership roles.”

Former CNBC Chairwoman Pamela Thomas-Graham, named one of BLACK ENTERPRISE’S Top 75 executives in 2005, performed a corporate double play in early September. First she was appointed group president for Liz Claiborne

Inc. “Tackling the challenge of overseeing multiple brands is one reason for the move from CNBC to Liz Claiborne,” says Thomas-Graham. Two days later, she accepted Clorox’s invitation as their newest board member.
— Kiara Ashanti

Renetta McCann stepped into the top post as chief executive officer of Starcom MediaVest Group in October. This industry veteran now leads global operations for one of the world’s top five media agencies. She is responsible for all annual business plan development and finance issues, maintaining strong client relationships, and driving a broad scope of the agency’s strategic media planning functions. McCann was named BE’s Corporate Executive of the year in 2002.
— Nicole Marie Richardson