NewTek has named Jim Plant to the newly created position of executive vice president of business and strategic development. NewTek is a leading provider of full-featured video editing, animation and special effects tools. The company's products are used worldwide on projects ranging from home video, broadcast television and feature films (CHARLIE'S ANGELS, HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, X-MEN). "Jim is a proven executive who is very familiar with the video and 3D marketplace," said Tim Jenison, CEO and founder of NewTek. "He brings a strong skill set to our management team, and I expect him to make a significant impact on the company's future growth and development." In his position at NewTek, Plant will be a member of the executive staff and will report directly to Jenison. His responsibilities include overseeing NewTek's business development efforts, including strategic alliances, partnerships, acquisitions and the identification and development of new sources of revenue. "NewTek has developed a wide array of impressive technologies and products over a number of years, which has earned it a tremendous reputation among users worldwide," said Plant. "I'm pleased to join NewTek's management team and I'm looking forward to helping strengthen and amplify this reputation as NewTek delivers new products and expands to new markets worldwide." Plant served most recently as vice president of marketing communications at Geocast Network System. Prior to Geocast, he was the director of marketing and corporate communications at ReplayTV Inc., a pioneering digital video recorder company. Plant is best known in the NewTek community as the founding editor-in-chief of AVID, THE AMIGA-VIDEO JOURNAL and of VIDEO TOASTER USER MAGAZINE. Plant began his career as the director of corporate and educational sales at HT Electronics.