Cox Communications, the nation’s third-largest cable operator, announced the appointment of Scott Knaub as its executive director of wireless business operations.

Cox is in the process of building its own cellular network, with launches slated to take place in some markets later this year (story here). Cox will initially use Sprint’s network until its own buildout is completed.

In his new role, Knaub will be responsible for financial operations, business case analysis, roaming negotiations and roaming infrastructure development. His team will serve as a primary point of contact on critical vendor relationships involving wholesale partnership agreements.

Prior to his promotion, Knaub served as vice president of operations in New England.

Knaub joined Cox in 2000 as a director of business operations in the company’s corporate office. In 2002, he was promoted to vice president of business operations for Cox’s New England System.

Prior to joining Cox, he held numerous leadership positions at MCI, which later became Verizon Business.

Last month, Cox hired Raj Beri as vice president of wireless product operations and Dane Dickie as executive director of wireless product development (story here).