Light Reading has further strengthened its team with the appointment of experienced telecom industry editor Dan O'Shea as managing editor, starting July 26.

He joins only weeks after Carol Wilson returned to Light Reading as editor-at-large. (See Carol Wilson Takes On Key Role at Light Reading.)

Chicago-based O'Shea is known to many in the industry as the former editor of Telephony magazine and for being the last person to leave the bar at trade shows.

"I'm thrilled to be working alongside long-time colleagues and friends such as Carol Wilson and Sarah Reedy, as well as working for such an esteemed telecom publication, one of the few I haven't worked for already," said O'Shea, speaking from his local microbrewery.

"If there is an intersection to be explored between telecom and craft beer, I'll find it. But in the meantime I'll concentrate on fresh analysis of hot topics such as packet-optical, Carrier Ethernet and SDN. Also, does anyone know how to pronounce 'Le Maistre'?"

O'Shea , who was also the founding editor of FierceTelecom before embarking on a freelance career, joins just as Light Reading is about to embark on its biggest makeover since it was launched in 2000, with a new design, additional multimedia functionality, and greater engagement with the global communications industry community.

"It's great to have Dan on board -- he has an incredible reputation as an editor and all round good egg. I'm hoping he'll also be able to help with some fantasy sports and baseball discussions on the site," said Editor-in-Chief Ray Le Maistre.

"His arrival does present us with a slight dilemma, though, as we already have a Dan on the team, in the form of mobile coverage leader and in-house headwear specialist Dan Jones. One of them may need to be renamed -- I've always wanted to work with a Bernard," he added.

— The staff, Light Reading