Comcast (News - Alert) Corporation has promoted Kathy Zachem and Melissa Maxfield, two highly-respected legislative and regulatory professionals in Washington, to the post of senior vice president.

With these promotions, Zachem becomes senior vice president, Regulatory and State Legislative Affairs, and Maxfield becomes senior vice president, Congressional and Federal Government Affairs.

“Kathy and Melissa are two of the most highly respected legislative and regulatory professionals in Washington,” said David L. Cohen, executive vice president of Comcast. “Their leadership work in connection with our NBCUniversal transaction was integral to its successful completion. They have also been instrumental in building Comcast’s office in Washington, assembling an incredibly talented and deeply experienced federal and state government affairs team. These promotions are very well deserved for the remarkable work they have done on behalf of Comcast.”

Zachem, who joined Comcast in 2008, has been responsible for leading Comcast’s advocacy before federal agencies, including the Federal Communications Commission, and state regulatory and legislative bodies.

Prior to joining Comcast, Zachem worked for the law firm Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP. A founding partner of this company, Zachem practiced communications law for the law firm for 23 years.

A law graduate from George Mason University School of Law and holder of a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science from the George Washington University, Zachem was named among the “Most Powerful Women in Cable” by CableFax magazine (2010, 2008), and as one of “Washington’s Best” lawyers by Washingtonian Magazine (2007).

Maxfield has been associated with Comcast since 2003. At Comcast, she is responsible for overseeing its congressional lobbying efforts.

Prior to joining the company eight years ago, Maxfield held several senior political positions, including director, Dedicated Americans for the Senate and the House PAC (DASHPAC), where she was responsible for political outreach on behalf of the Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle to Senators and Senate candidates. Before that, she served with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee as political liaison, and held several senior fundraising positions.

In a separate press release, Comcast announced the launch of a national marketing campaign for its muscled-up offerings of Hispanic channels and a Spanish-language XfinityTV.com website. The launch was announced as the company’s cable-TV and Internet service passed an estimated five million Hispanic households in the United States.