American Trucking Associations announced two personnel moves: the promotion of Prasad Sharma to senior vice president and general counsel and the hiring of Richard Pianka as the association's new vice president and deputy chief counsel.


Sharma has been with ATA since 2000, most recently as vice president and deputy chief counsel. Sharma also oversaw ATA's Highway Watch program from 2007-2009. Before coming to ATA, Sharma was an attorney with Holland & Knight. He has a law degree from Emory University and an undergraduate degree from Georgetown University.

Sharma replaces Robert Digges as ATA's general counsel following Digges' retirement.

Pianka joins ATA from the firm of Mayer Brown LLP where he specialized in general and appellate litigation. Prior to that he was with the firm of WilmerHale, and before beginning his law career he was a computational linguist and taught history and archeology. He holds a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, a Masters from the University of Texas and an undergraduate degree from Princeton University.

"I'm extremely pleased to be able to promote Prasad and have a great deal of confidence he will continue to provide the first-rate legal guidance and service that our members have come to expect from ATA," says Bill Graves, president and CEO. "ATA is also fortunate to be able to add an attorney of Rich's stature and ability to our team and we expect great things from him in the years to come."