James F. Sirmons, former CBS executive, began his career as a writer and announcer for radio stations in Ohio and joined CBS in 1942 as a Production Supervisor, then Production Manager in 1949, and successively as Operations Supervisor, Operations Manager, and in 1957 Assistant Director of Labor Relations. He was appointed in 1961 to Director of Labor Relations, became Vice President Employee Relations in 1969, and Vice President Personnel and Labor Relations in 1971. Then he was promoted to Senior Vice President of Industrial Relations in 1981, and finally Executive Vice President of Industrial Relations in 1994, finally retiring in 1999 after 57 years with the network (longer than nearly any other employee). Larry King credits him as one of the individuals whose advice helped to launch his career. |
