The National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA) has appointed Gail MacKinnon as its new senior vice president, government relations, effective Jan. 1, 2006. She replaced Steve Berry, who in November announced his departure from NCTA.

MacKinnon joins NCTA from CBS where she served as senior vice president, Washington, and is also a 20-year veteran in congressional and government relations work.

Prior to her work at CBS, MacKinnon held various roles in both the broadcasting and cable industries--as vice president, government relations for Viacom; vice president, federal relations, CBS; director of government relations for TeleCommunications and as director of government relations for Turner Broadcasting System.