January 5, 2006

Brian Kidney, code-named the "CTIA's chief operating officer", is leaving CTIA, the wireless trade association.

"Brian Kidney and CTIA President Steve Largent had different management styles and have mutually agreed to part ways," said John Walls, CTIA vice president of public affairs.

Kidney was part of the Largent's strategy to transform CTIA into an operation that functioned more like a congressional office.

Largent is a former Republican congressman from Oklahoma. Most congressional offices are led by a chief of staff. Kidney was that "chief of staff," even though his official title was chief operating officer.

It is unclear whether Kidney will be replaced, but many wireless insiders speculated that the role of chief of staff does not necessary work at a trade association.

Kidney is a wireless industry veteran who was vice president of external affairs for AirTouch Communications until 2000. He is a former member of the CTIA board, and he lobbied Capitol Hill in the 1980s for Pacific Telesis Group.

Source: RCR