Award-winning producer/director Sheldon Lazarus, formerly of Planet
24 and BSkyB, has joined Fox Kids Europe N.V. (FKE) as head of FKE's
newly created pan-European special programming department. This new
department, the first of its kind for FKE, will centralize
development of entertainment programming for FKE's European network
of channels. As head of special programming, Lazarus will oversee a
team of three and will develop global concepts, targeting local
tastes and needs within each territory, using content ranging from

Gail
Schenbaum and Karen DiNoto have joined the Los Angeles-based creative
department of Big Idea Productions. Gail Schenbaum has been appointed
senior vice president of creative affairs, responsible for
identifying and developing live-action and animated family feature
films, direct-to-video and television projects. Schenbaum brings with
her nearly 20 years of experience in the film and television
production arena. Most recently she was a producer and creative
consultant for a number of companies, including Pearson UK,

Marvel Enterprises, Inc. has appointed Kenneth P. West, 44, as executive vice president and chief financial officer. In his new capacity, West will be responsible for managing all financial and treasury functions, bank relationships and conducting internal and industry analysis to support the company's goals for growth. He will also play an important role in Marvel's expanded investor relations initiatives and developing strategies to enhance the company's capital structure.

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.

Paul Condolora has been named vice president and general manager, Cartoon Network New Media. In this capacity, he is responsible for Cartoon Network's rapidly growing U.S. interactive content initiatives, including the network's Internet sites, www.CartoonNetwork.com and www.adultswim.com, as well as working with Turner Network Sales on the expansion of network and character brands to emerging interactive technologies such as wireless, broadband and interactive television. Condolora previously served as vice president, business development and new products for Cartoon Network Online.

Creative editorial and post-production boutique Flipside has just completed a major Clorox campaign via DDB/SF, after the addition of lead animator Nathaniel Hunter. Nathaniel brings a broad background in games, multimedia, television and film production to his new role as lead animator at Flipside Editorial. Nathaniel was co-founder of Lumens Studios where he spent three years before going freelance. During that time, he began consulting for Matteworld Digital on the film ARMAGEDDON.

Film Roman Commercials, a division of Film Roman, has added five new directors to their growing roster of talent.

Gullane Entertainment has appointed Alistair Richards as senior vice president, consumer products UK and International. In this position, Richards will be responsible for the UK based licensing, publishing, live events and consumer products marketing departments. Most recently, Richards has served as general manager of Hasbro UK, Northern Europe and developing markets, where he oversaw a new business drive, winning local toy and game licenses from the BBC and other licensors, and creating and implementing a growth plan across all countries.

Bicoastal production company Picture Park and visual effects and design company Radium have added designer/director Tuesday McGowan to their respective rosters. At Picture Park, McGowan will direct commercials, music videos and film projects while at Radium she will utilize her talents to create motion graphics and title design. Prior to her posts at Picture Park and Radium, McGowan spent four years directing live-action and design/graphics commercial projects with New York City-based Curious Pictures while remaining creative director at WIG, the design arm of Western Images in San Francisco.

Furthering its efforts to expand its CG capabilities, Portland, Oregon-based Vinton Studios (VS) has hired Al Cubillas as director of digital production. Cubillas will be responsible for overseeing the operations of three departments - CG, editorial and IT. Before joining VS, Cubillas was general manager and director of technology at Colorado FX in Santa Monica. Prior to that he served as the general manager and director of technology at Digital Muse in Santa Monica, California.

David Ferguson has been appointed to the management board of TV-Loonland AG and has assumed the newly created position of chief operating officer and president, core activities. Based in London, he will handle the coordination of business operations and oversee the program business of the TV-Loonland Group. Ferguson joins TV-Loonland following five years as president of Cinar Europe, where he was responsible for staffing, executive producing, rights exploitation, joint ventures and acquisitions including the integration into Cinar of FilmFair Studios.