Dole Names Lawrence A. Kern President, COO, Board Member

* Dole Food Co., based in Westlake Village, has promoted Lawrence A. Kern to president and chief operating officer. Kern, who also will join the board of directors, was in charge of Dole’s worldwide fresh vegetable and nontropical fresh fruit operations. Kern, who will report to Chairman and Chief Executive David Murdock, succeeds David DeLorenzo, who will become board vice chairman.

* Teen apparel retailer Hot Topic Inc. has named Jerry Cook as chief operating officer, a newly created position. Cook will report to Betsy McLaughlin, the company’s president and chief executive. Cook has 25 years of experience in retail, most recently as president and COO of Travel 2000 Inc. The Industry-based retailer also promoted Jay Johnson to senior vice president, strategic analysis and investor relations, and Jim McGinty to chief financial officer.

* Roy Kim has been named chief operating officer of Santa Monica-based Fandom Inc., an entertainment media marketer. Kim is a former president of Planesia, a provider of commerce solutions for portals and Internet service providers.

* NovaStor Corp. of Simi Valley has promoted Christopher R. Harvey to chief technology officer from interim CTO of the maker of data protection and disaster recovery software.

* Pasadena-based label maker Avery Dennison Corp. has promoted Timothy S. Clyde, vice president and general manager of the company’s North American office products operation, to group vice president of the worldwide office products business.

* Kerri Lynn Brodek has been named vice president, production, at Studio City, a Los Angeles-based broadcast marketing company that produces promotions and other spots. She will oversee production and budgets.