In its continuing efforts to maximize the strengths of management, and to ensure the greatest operating efficiencies for the company, children’s video game publisher NewKidCo International Inc., has made several changes to its senior management team. Allan Blum has resigned from his position as VP marketing and Barry Fried will be joining the company as vice president and chief financial officer. As a senior financial executive with more than 20 years of public accounting and private industry experience, Fried will play a large role in NewKidCo's strategic plans.

Digital Artists Agency, which represents visual effects professionals for work in feature films, television and commercials, has hired former visual effects supervisor Janet Muswell as an artists' representative. Since relocating to the United States from Great Britain, Muswell has held visual effects artist staff positions with The Post Group and Digital Magic. She was visual effects supervisor on projects such as the 1996 television mini-series TITANIC and the Sci-Fi Channel series THE INVISIBLE MAN. Most recently she served as director of visual effects for the Livewire Television group.

Sunbow Entertainment has promoted two members of their staff into newly created positions. Suzanne Berman becomes associate director of creative affairs and Sowon Jun takes on the role of coordinator of creative affairs. Suzanne Berman worked at Sony Wonder, New York from 1997 until winter 2000 when TV-Loonland founded Sunbow Entertainment Inc. out of its acquisition of Sunbow Productions and the entire TV production and distribution business activities of Sony Music Entertainment. Over the period of four years, she steadily rose through the ranks in the development area.

Marilyn Rebman, former HR director for Westwood/EA, has joined Virtual Search, Inc., a game industry recruiting firm. In her new role as recruiter, Rebman will continue to utilize her more than two decades of HR experience in bringing the right person to the right position. Prior to joining Westwood, Rebman owned her own HR consulting firm, working with a variety of clients and established companies to lead their hiring initiatives. Today, however, her focus is clearly on the game industry. "This industry is in a league of its own -- cutting-edge, challenging and fun all at the same time.

As part of the company's transition from video game hardware manufacturer to platform-agnostic third party publisher, Sega of America is expanding its marketing organization into two focused divisions -- sports and entertainment properties. Sega will also begin hiring personnel immediately into the expanded marketing organization. To this end, Sega announced the addition of Mike Fischer to the Sega marketing team as group director of product marketing for the entertainment division. Fischer brings more than eleven years of experience in video game marketing to Sega.

Gullane Entertainment, the UK-based developer and marketer of such children’s based entertainment as BRITT ALLCROFT'S MAGIC ADVENTURES OF MUMFIE and THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE AND FRIENDS, has named David Snyder senior vice president of entertainment as part of the company's ongoing expansion efforts. In this newly appointed position, Snyder will oversee Gullane Entertainment's global production, distribution and development activity and will be based in the company's New York office.

Twentieth Century Fox has united its international theatrical and international home entertainment units under the supervision of Stephen Moore. Moore has been president of Twentieth Century Fox, Home Entertainment International (TCFHEI) since June 1997. In his new position as president of Twentieth Century Fox International, Moore will continue to oversee TCFHEI and will also oversee the company's international theatrical marketing and distribution operations, which will continue to be managed by Scott Neeson, president, Twentieth Century Fox International Theatrical.

Marketing executive Michelle Hagen has joined Global Animation as vice president of marketing & business development. In this position, she will oversee the worldwide client development of Global Animation’s three principal companies: Spectrum Studios in Los Angeles, ImagineAsia and VirtualMagic ASIA in Manila, Philippines. Hagen comes to Global with 12 years of industry experience, having worked for some of Hollywood’s most successful studios.

Rick Krause has joined BOXX Technologies as president and chief executive officer, replacing former president and CEO Todd Bryant who has assumed the responsibility of chief technology officer. Krause brings with him more than 25 years experience in high technology business development and company team building.

Video game veteran RJ Mical has joined Fathammer as chief architect. Mical assumes the responsibility for designing the software architecture and development interface for Fathammer's mobile game engine, X-Forge. He will oversee the integration of third-party components as well as serve as a company spokesman and technology evangelist. Prior to joining Fathammer, Mical was vice president of software engineering at Red Jade. Mical is also credited with co-inventing the Atari Lynx handheld video game system and co-architecting the 3DO entertainment console.