WATERVILLE — Customer service programs at L.L. Bean is the topic of the next Business Breakfast at Thomas College.

Jill Bruce will talk about customer service in the new millennium from 7:30-9 a.m. Thursday in the Student Commons at the college. The program is presented in partnership with the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce,

Bruce has worked at L.L. Bean for 22 years and oversees training programs relating to quality program and communications for customer service employees.

Cost is $14 for members with advanced registration, $16 for members at the door or $20 for general admission. For registration information, call 873-3315 or email prog.asst@midmainechamber.com.

Sony Pictures’ Lynton to run US operations

NEW YORK — Sony Corp. said that Michael Lynton, the chairman of movie studio Sony Pictures, will be promoted to chief executive of all of Sony’s operations in the U.S.

Lynton will continue to head Sony Pictures along with co-chairman Amy Pascal.

Nicole Seligman, Sony’s general counsel, will become president of Sony Corp. of America.

FDA to re-examine safety of metal hips

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration will hold a two-day meeting in June to discuss growing safety concerns about metal-on-metal hip replacements, which recent studies suggest are more likely to fail than traditional plastic hips.

Metal hip joints have been under scrutiny due to reports of pain and swelling that have sometimes required removal. In 2010, Johnson & Johnson recalled roughly 93,000 implants. The FDA already asked device companies to conduct additional follow-up studies to monitor problems with the implants.

The agency said it will hold a two-day meeting beginning June 27 to consider if more rigorous testing standards are needed.

Gov. loses millions

on small bank stocks

WASHINGTON — The government has lost roughly $50 million on its sale of stock in six small banks bailed out in the 2008 financial crisis. But the Treasury Department said the three-year investment was profitable after counting dividends and investments.

The department said Thursday it received $362 million from the first public auction of its preferred stock in small banks. Treasury invested $410.8 million in the six banks.

But Treasury noted that when including $65.4 million in dividends and interest, the investment return was $427.4 million.

Compiled from wire reports

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