Cablevision's Blackley, Mayo Are Resigning

Cablevision Systems confirmed that Jim Blackley, executive vice president of corporate engineering and technology, has handed in his resignation papers and the MSO announced that Kathleen "Kip" Mayo, executive VP of consumer operations, will leave later this month.

"As Cablevision evolves into a more competitive and customer-focused organization, executive changes are to be expected," the cable operator said in a statement. "It is an occurrence that is inevitable as we continue to grow and transform as a company."

Blackley, who has been with Cablevision since 1996, will stay with the MSO until May. According to industry sources, veteran cable technologist Wilt Hildenbrand will return to Cablevision full-time with Blackley's departure.

Mayo joined Cablevision in 1997, when she was hired to head up the MSO's Massachusetts operations as general manager. As executive VP of consumer operations, she has been responsible for all of the operator's field operations, service, outside plant, security auditing, customer service, call centers, walk-in centers and billing organization.

The departures of Blackley and Mayo -- a member of Multichannel News' 2010 Wonder Women class -- come after a string of high-level executives have quit Cablevision. Chief operating officer Tom Rutledge and president of cable operations John Bickham left late last year and last week Cablevision said executive VP of marketing Jonathan Hargis will be leaving shortly.

This week, former SeaChange International president Yvette Kanouff joined the Bethpage, N.Y.-based operator as executive vice president of engineering, software design, as first reported by Multichannel News.

Following Blackley's departure, she will report to Hildenbrand, who has been a senior technology adviser to Cablevision since 2006.