Wade Howie will be joining Ottawa-based animation studio NOITAMINANIMATION as production director, beginning July 1, 2002. In his new position, Wade will be helping grow the studio's commercials, FX and features divisions. Wade joins NOITAMINANIMATION from ILM where he spent 5 1/2 years, first as an animator in CG features then later in ILM's commercial production unit, where he worked on spots for Pepsi, McDonald's, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 and Duracell, as well as trailers and music videos.

Zilpha Yost was recently promoted to president of Vinton Studios’ advertising division overseeing all aspects of Vinton’s commercial business, including sales, marketing, creative and production. Yost has been with Vinton Studios since 1992, when she joined the company as a producer. She was promoted to senior producer, where she took charge of the M&M's campaign, then executive producer. In 2000, she was promoted to head of commercial production, where she directed creative operations of the studios’ advertising division.

U.K.-based animation producer Telemagination has promoted Denise Green to the position of producer and hired Claire Watson as production manager. In her new capacity as Telemagination’s only in-house producer, Denise Green will have full responsibility for all productions running through the studio. Current projects include SOMETHING ELSE (26 x 11 minutes) and PONGWIFFY (26 x 11 minutes). She originally joined Telemagination as production manager in January 2001. Claire Watson has joined Telemagination as production manager and oversees all of Telemagination’s production work.

Recently launched 3D animation and digital effects studio Sway has brought on Michael Adamo as executive producer. Adamo had been consulting for the company since January 2002. In his new role as executive producer, Adamo brings to Sway extensive character animation experience. Previously, Adamo worked at Zeros & Ones, Inc., where he served as producer and a director of the 26-episode Web series, JULIUS & FRIENDS. Adamo was also co-founder of AMPnyc Animation, where he produced and co-directed the seven spot campaign, "Happy Action Fun Time on ESPN" for NCAA basketball on ESPN.

Nelvana's Toper Taylor has been promoted to president of international distribution, marketing and consumer products with responsibilities for Nelvana’s extensive portfolio of brands. Taylor also remains president of Nelvana Communications, the Los Angeles-based sales and development office of Nelvana Ltd. Adding to his current responsibilities, Taylor’s new role is to unify all distribution, licensing and merchandise sales activities under one structure that will be focused on maximizing Nelvana’s roster of brands.

Director Marco Bertoldo has joined San Francisco-based animation production company Mondo Media. In his new position, Bertoldo will assume creative responsibilities for Mondo Media’s 3D animation division. Bertoldo is best known for his 3D short GONE BAD, which was featured at the Sundance Online Film Festival 2001 and 2002, and recently won the animation category for the Alice Radio 3-Minute Film Festival. Previously, Marco Bertoldo worked as a freelance animation director for Mondo Media, supervising projects for clients such as Fox Interactive, Activision, Crystal Dynamics and 3DO.

Oscar-nominated animation director Chris Bailey has joined visual effects studio Cinesite Hollywood in the newly created role of director of animation. Prior to joining Cinesite, Bailey was director of animation at Dream Quest Images and supervised animation for such features as INSPECTOR GADGET, MIGHTY JOE YOUNG and HOCUS POCUS. He was employed at Walt Disney Studios as an animator from the mid-1980s to the early '90s, where he worked on many high-profile features including HERCULES, THE LION KING and THE LITTLE MERMAID.

Nevada-based licensing firm The Sharpe Company has opened a branch office in Los Angeles and expanded their executive staff. In addition to the new office, Sharpe has added Mary Kean as senior licensing director and Kathy Gorden as creative director. Prior to joining Sharpe, Kean was manager of brand merchandising at AskJeeves.com and The Roger Richman Agency’s director of licensing for such celebrity icons as Albert Einstein and Steve McQueen. Kathy Gorden has extensive marketing, design and print production experience.

Production company Super 78 has hired Lisa O’Brien as the company’s director of marketing. Formerly an executive producer at Rhythm & Hues, O'Brien honed her experience on commercials for Sunbeam, Matchlight, Kellogg's Pop-Tarts and Lexus. She began her producing career at Digital Productions then joined Rhythm & Hues in 1987 as a line producer, becoming executive producer for the studio's CGI television commercial division in 1990, where she worked until 1996.

Barry Koch has been promoted to senior vice president and general manager of Cartoon Network and Boomerang Latin America. Koch began his career at TBS in 1984. He was named vice president of audience research for TNT, Turner Classic Movies, TNT Latin America and Cartoon Network Latin America in 1995. In 1999, Koch moved over to Cartoon Network to oversee programming, creative services and operations for the network.