Veteran production and development exec Marjorie Cohn has been promoted to the newly created position of evp, development and original programming, at Nickelodeon. Based in New York, Cohn will oversee all of Nickelodeon's ongoing program development and current series production activities in New York, Los Angeles and Canada

Steven B. Cohen, a pioneer in digital technologies used to edit and screen feature films, has joined Ascent Media Creative Services in the newly created post of vp of feature film services. In his new role, Cohen will develop leading edge digital services for use in film production; including digital dailies, location and studio screening rooms, digital cinema previews and the digital intermediate process.

Universal Pictures Marketing Creative Operations has brought in Scott Abraham and Jeff Hutchinson as vps while upping Jonathan Q. Kern and Stan Scoggins to vp positions as well.

Steve Siskind replaces Tom Campanella as evp, worldwide marketing and advertising, of the marketing division of the Motion Picture Group, Paramount Pictures, according to Rob Friedman, coo, Paramount Pictures and vice chairman, Motion Picture Group.

Campanella, who after a career of more than 40 years at Paramount, will change his status to a senior advisor for the company.

Voice actor Tony Pope, who gave voice to Goofy and the Wolf in WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT?, Detective Shunsaku Ban in the animated film METROPOLIS and Furby, an interactive toy that was the rage in 1998, has passed on at the age of 56. He died of complications following leg surgery Feb. 11, 2004 at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California.

Jamie Weissenborn has been named to the newly created position of vp, global advertising sales, international networks, Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI). Based at SPTI's headquarters in Culver City, California. Weissenborn will manage advertising sales for SPTI's multi-territory programs airing across AXN and Sony Entertainment Television (SET), part of SPTI's International Networks portfolio.

Director Lisa Yu, a rising talent with a unique sensibility for stop motion animation, is the latest addition to Portland-based animation/live action production studio Bent Image Lab's stable of directors. While stop motion animation is most often used in comedy or lighthearted applications, Yu's 2002 independent short, VESSEL WRESTLING, applied the technique to make a dramatic and thought-provoking film about passion and sex. The short's arresting imagery won her numerous accolades and awards, as well as the attention of the partners at Bent.

Hollywood-based Troika Design Group has named Sonia Lamba as creative director. "We have always had great respect for Sonia's work and her reputation as an innovator in our field, and we are excited to have her aboard as a creative director," said Troika co-founder and exec producer Chuck Carey.

Stage and voice actor Jason Raise died last week of an apparent suicide in Yass, Australia, reported Broadway.com. He was 28.

Raize voiced the character of Denahi from Disney's BROTHER BEAR. He made his Broadway breakthrough as the original Simba in the stage version of THE LION KING.

Raize is survived by his father Robert Rothenberg, mother Sarah MacArthur, sister Lisa Williams, stepmother Monet Rothenberg, stepfather Jim Kidd and four stepbrothers and two stepsisters.

Reginald Fils-Aime has been named evp, sales and marketing, for Nintendo of America Inc.'s operations in both North America and Latin America.

A senior consumer marketing exec with a proven track record, Fils-Aime most recently was svp of marketing at VH1, part of the MTV networks, and previously was chief marketing officer for Derby Cycle Corp., and U.S. marketing chief for Guinness Import Co.

Jean Réveillon is now secretary general of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) replacing Jean Stock, who had held the position since October 2001 and who will now be working as special consultant to the president until Dec. 31, 2004.

Arne Wessberg, the EBU President, said he was confident that, "the personal and professional qualities of this extremely experienced professional [Réveillon] will enable him to meet – on behalf of the EBU and its members – all the challenges facing broadcasters in an ever-changing environment."

Hidemi Fukuhara joins VIZ LLC as the new vice chairman/cfo, replacing Satoru Fujii, who is retiring from day-to-day operations, but will remain on the VIZ board of directors.

Home Box Office has elevated Carolyn Strauss and Sheila Nevins to the titles of president, HBO Entertainment and president, HBO Documentary and Family, respectively.

In making the announcement, HBO chairman/ceo Chris Albrecht said, “Carolyn and Sheila have made extraordinary contributions to our programming over many years. Their creative instincts have been instrumental to our success and I wanted to acknowledge that with these promotions.”

Longtime Disney artist John Hench passed away on Feb. 5, 2004 after suffering heart failure after a brief illness and hospitalization at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. He was 95 years old.

Cartoon Network lost a kids programming vp when Linda Simensky migrated to PBS late in 2003, and has since gained a former PBS kids programming alum. Alice Cahn has been named vp of development for Cartoon Network's kids businesses, focusing on original entertainment programming for children ages 4-7, and will work with the company's online, marketing, ad sales and licensing teams to expand Cartoon Network's youth-targeted business off-air.

Ronnie Cook has been named md of Fox Kids Europe’s consumer products division, Active Licensing Europe where he will co-ordinate all of FKE's pan-European consumer products activities, including home video, working closely with Fox Kids' local mds.

Merger vet Nadine Nohr now heads the integrated Granada International and Carlton International companies as md of Granada International, it was announced by John Cresswell, coo of Granada, a division of ITV plc in the U.K. Granada International will create the largest commercial distribution company in Europe, delivering co-production, acquisition, format licensing and international video and DVD sales.

Radium recently welcomed five new members to its team: head of production Dennis Hoffman, CG supervisor Kirk Cadrette, Inferno artist Jon Wank, digital effects artist Chris Biggs and CG artist/matte painter Darin Hilton.

3 Ring Circus, a leading creative branding firm offering services in strategy, design, image and production, continues its expansion, naming Andrew Hoeveler as designer.

Tom Ascheim takes on the newly created position of evp/gm, Nickelodeon Digital Television, overseeing all four of Nick's premiere digital television channels, which include Noggin, The N, Nickelodeon Games and Sports (GAS) and Nicktoons, as well as Nickelodeon Video on Demand (VOD) offerings.