The change in executive management at BellSouth triggered by Gary Forsee’s defection earlier this year reached out to affect Cingular Wireless on Tuesday.

In a series of switches, BellSouth said the chief operating officer of Cingular would return to the regional Bell operating company as chief staff officer.

Mark Feidler will report to BellSouth’s chief executive officer, Dyane Ackerman.

Forsee, now the CEO at Sprint, was the heir apparent to Ackerman before winning a legal fight to defect to Sprint in March.

In an announcement issued this morning, BellSouth said the officer moves give the company “new perspective.” The company also said it would consolidate staff functions under Feidler.

“Mark has done an excellent job of building and guiding Cingular’s operations,” said Ackerman in a statement. “We are glad to have him back as we chart the future course of BellSouth.”

Feidler is to have responsibility for planning and development, corporate compliance, advertising, public relations, human resources and diversity initiatives. He has served as chief operating officer for the past two-and-a-half years at Cingular Wireless, which is partly owned by BellSouth.

Ralph de la Vega will leave his position as BellSouth’s president of Latin American operations to replace Feidler as Cingular’s COO. De la Vega will report to Cingular CEO Stan Sigman.

Dick Anderson will continue in his role as president of customer markets. Reporting to Anderson will be Jan Funderburg, who has been named president of consumer operations. Ron Frieson, VP of transition and strategy, will report to Funderburg.

Rex Adams, president of BellSouth Long Distance, will add VP of product development and management to his duties, and will continue to report to Anderson.

Ike Harris has been named president of BellSouth Enterprises, reporting to Ackerman. Harris will be responsible for the corporation’s European and Latin American operations, as well as advertising and publishing. Among those reporting to Harris will be Paulino Barros, newly-named president of Latin American operations.

Keith Cowan has been appointed president of interconnection services and will be responsible for BellSouth’s wholesale operations. Richard Burns has been named VP of centers and operations support, and Bill Smith will be chief technology officer. All three will report to Rod Odom, president of network services.

“Today’s announcements will provide for new energy and new perspectives as we continue to meet the competitive challenges of the telecommunications marketplace,” Ackerman said in a statement.

All changes are effective Jan. 1, 2004.

BellSouth: www.bellsouth.com