Office-products company, Staples, has appointed Cynthia Pevehouse to senior vice president, general counsel, effective Jan. 3, 2012. Pevehouse will have global management responsibility for the company's legal team and report to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ron Sargent.

Pevehouse joins Staples from international law firm Steptoe & Johnson, where she served as senior counsel advising senior management and boards of directors. Previously, she served as executive vice president and general counsel at Allianz of America Corporation. Prior to Allianz of America, Pevehouse served in senior legal positions in the technology industry, including general counsel at Polycom; Ask Jeeves; and Compaq Computer Corporation.