Verizon Wireless President Denny Strigl has been promoted to president and chief operating officer of Verizon Communications, a new position reporting to Verizon Chairman and CEO Ivan Seidenberg, effective Jan. 1, 2007.

Strigl will be given operational command of all of Verizon’s network-based businesses (Verizon Wireless, Verizon Telecom and Verizon Business) as well as Verizon Services Operations, which provides financial, real estate and other functional services to all of the company’s operations. He will remain a member of the Verizon Wireless Board of Directors.

Succeeding Strigl at Verizon Wireless is Lowell McAdam, currently executive vice president and chief operating officer at Verizon Wireless.

Separately, Verizon named John Stratton, currently vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless, to the new position of executive vice president and chief marketing officer, responsible for the marketing and brand initiatives of all Verizon’s business units.

Shaygan Kheradpir, currently chief information officer for Verizon Telecom, has been named to executive vice president and chief information officer – also a new position, responsible for the information technology initiatives of all Verizon’s business units.

There’s been little clamor to have Verizon designate a successor to Seidenberg, who turned 60 two weeks ago. Naming a COO should forestall any from arising.