The Associated Press has named two news executives in London and new bureau chiefs in Germany and France as part of a series of European appointments Thursday.

Tom Berman, a longtime news leader in AP's U.S. operations, will move to London as Deputy Europe Editor, and Sheila Norman-Culp, supervisor on the Europe Desk, has been promoted to the new position of Assistant Europe Editor.

Robert Reid, AP's regional editor for the Middle East, will become Chief of Bureau for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Berlin newsman David Rising becomes Chief Correspondent for Germany.

Angela Charlton, the AP's news editor in Paris, becomes Chief of Bureau for France, the Benelux nations and North Africa. The Benelux countries are Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

The appointments were announced by John Daniszewski, AP's senior managing editor for international news. "This will be a very potent team for a very important part of the world," he said.