Western Union Promotes Insider to COO

Western Union Co. said Monday it would promote an insider to chief operating officer effective Jan. 1.

The money-order company said Hikmet Ersek would have responsibility for all of its business units and operations and marketing.

Ersek is currently executive vice president and managing director for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Ersek, who was born in Turkey, joined First Data Corp., Western Union's former parent, in 1999 after holding executive jobs at GE Capital and Europay-Mastercard.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.