The Disney Channel has formed a new management team, as a result of ABC Cable Networks Group's recent reorganization. Gary Marsh was named executive vice president, original programming and production; Andrea Taylor, senior vice president, marketing; and Jill Casagrande senior vice president, programming. "This team's creative vision and expertise in the marketplace will ensure Disney Channel's place as a leader in the creation of quality, kid-driven original product," said Rich Ross, general manager, Disney Channel. "This is the perfect team to build upon our already successful network.

Skunk has signed Flash director Michael Overbeck to their roster. The London-based company will represent the director internationally for commercials and music videos. Overbeck has won numerous international awards, including the 2000 Audience choice award at RESFEST. Overbeck recently worked on a pilot entitled UTICA CARTOON for the Cartoon Network, which aired Friday, July 13. "It's a great pleasure to be working with such a young and unique talent. Mike takes the application of the extremely popular Flash to another level," said Hyun-Ho Khang of Skunk.

Stephen Johnstone has been promoted to the newly created position of senior vice president and general manager, Cartoon Network Europe, Middle East and Africa. Johnstone started with Turner eight years ago in the advertising sales division before moving into television channel management. More recently, he has held the post of head of interactive for Turner's entertainment networks. In his new roles, he will manage Cartoon Network's TV channels, interactive services and off-channel commerce.

Wild Brain, Inc. has named Steve Ramirez vice president of marketing and business development and Andrew Steiner as vice president of sales. In his new position, Ramirez will provide the strategic direction for Wild Brain's marketing and new business efforts. His responsibilities include developing brand strategy, creative advertising, public relations, licensing and merchandising and corporate identity. Ramirez joins Wild Brain from Collaborative Media, publishers of the popular etown.com consumer electronics Website where he served as VP of marketing.

New York-based Click 3x, the creative design, animation and production studio, has hired Jason Mayo as executive producer. Mayo, formerly executive producer of arc*light editorial, New York, will oversee production, supervise bidding and manage client relations. He will also assist Click 3x managing director Michael Porte and VP/national sales director Phil McIntyre in planning for the studio's future growth. In joining Click 3x, Mayo reunites with Porte, who was one of the founders of arc*light.

NewTek, manufacturer of industry-leading video, 2D and 3D animation products, has announced the promotion of Jim Plant to the posts of president and CEO. Plant joined NewTek as a consultant in February and was named executive vice president of business and strategic development in April. Tim Jenison, NewTek founder, CTO and chairman, has served as the interim president and CEO since early 1998. As president, Plant will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the company's operations.

Angus Cheng has been named director of development for Hong Kong by Walt Disney Imagineering. Cheng will serve as the point man for Walt Disney Imagineering's Hong Kong-based project team, which is developing the new theme park resort on Lantau Island. The Hong Kong Disneyland project includes a Disneyland-branded theme park, hotels and a retail, dining and entertainment complex. The new park is scheduled to open in 2005/2006. In this role, he will serve as a liaison between the Hong Kong SAR government and the Imagineering team in the United States.

Spontaneous Combustion has added senior visual effects designer Julie Watkins to its roster. Watkins comes to Spontaneous from R!OT Manhattan, where she spent the last two and a half years, as senior inferno* artist creating campaigns and spots for Volkswagen, AT&T, Cingular, NEC, ITT, Nokia, WebMD, Nine Inch Nails, HBO, MTV, Oxygen Channel, TBS, ESPN, CBS and Fox Kids, among others. Her film credits include LOST IN SPACE, LOCK STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS, THE END, RAZORBLADE SMILE and HOSTILE WATER.

Visual effects supervisor Stefano Trivelli has joined the staff of R!OT Santa Monica. To make the move, Trivelli has emigrated from his native Italy where he was co-founder, lead compositor and visual effects supervisor at Ubik Visuals Effects, Milan. Through Ubik, Trivelli designed and executed visual effects for four feature films and more than 100 commercials, including U.S. spots for Jeep, Pennzoil and Celebrity Cruises.

San Francisco’s Wild Brain, Inc. has promoted BZ Petroff to head of production. In her new position, Petroff will be responsible for developing strategies to strengthen all aspects of the studio’s various production-related departments. As Wild Brain continues to add to its CG and other technology-based capabilities, BZ will look for ways to incorporate these tools into the studio’s work in TV, film and interactive production. In addition to her new role as head of production, Petroff is also a dedicated producer. She recently completed work on the new Warner Bros.

Eve Ehrich has joined ATTIK, the brand communications company, as a senior producer in the New York studio. While production managing a package of promos for ESPN2's TUESDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS, which was designed, directed and produced by ATTIK earlier this year, Ehrich was invited to join the company. "I was enjoying the freelance life but an offer to work with a company that is as forward thinking conceptually and creatively as ATTIK was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

DIC Entertainment has announced the appointment of Brad Brooks as president. Brooks joined DIC in February 2000 to facilitate the management-led buy back of DIC from Disney. He helped raise the necessary capital from Chase Manhattan Bank and DIC's equity partner Bain Capital, as well as negotiated the terms of the deal. Brooks' responsibilities have included hiring several key management personnel, establishing internal systems and procedures, and assessing potential acquisition targets.

Alex Ferrari has been promoted to executive vice president and chief financial operator for MTV Networks. During his tenure, Ferrari has played a key role in virtually every major company project since joining the company in 1982. He was involved with the formation of Comedy Central, Nick Studios Florida, and the MTVi Group as well as the international expansion of the MTVN brands.

Douglas T. Parrish has been named senior vice president, technology and chief information officer for the Walt Disney Internet Group. In his new position, Parrish is responsible for overseeing the technology platform, infrastructure and applications for The Walt Disney Co.'s Internet properties. This includes networking infrastructure, Web hosting and serving, applications and tool development, and advanced and new technologies development.

Cartoon Network Italy has appointed a top-level marketing director to build the brand's image in the Italian marketplace. Jaime Ondarza comes from an international advertising agency background, bringing valuable knowledge of Italian consumer marketing to Cartoon Network Italy. He was recently with Young and Rubicam and previously at Saatchi & Saatchi and Pirella Gottsche Lowe. "My prime focus is to establish Cartoon Network in national contemporary culture," said Jaime.

Sanjeev Lamba has been named vice president, International, at Disney Interactive. Lamba will oversee development and management of Disney Interactive's business in territories outside North America, including Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific and Japan. Lamba has been with The Walt Disney Company since 1993. He joins Disney Interactive from Disney Consumer Products in Japan, where he served as vice president, licensing and marketing. Prior to that, he was director of marketing for Disney Consumer Products' licensed business in the Asia Pacific region.

25-year old Jodi F.Terwilliger has joined design boutique EyeballNYC. Born in Elmira, New York, Terwilliger graduated from Marist College, with a BA in Communications Radio/TV/Film. After graduation, he worked in advertising at Paradigm Communications, Tampa, Florida, and at The Diecks Group, in New York. Terwilliger returned to freelancing in late 2000. "Jodi is another great addition to the EyeballNYC crew," said founder and creative director Limore Shur.

Dan Lombardo has been named senior producer at Cinesite Hollywood. He will oversee daily operations of the 2D and 3D departments. He previously worked as an executive producer and vice president of production at Computer Film Company (CFC) and Manex Visual Effects. His credits include MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2, ROMEO MUST DIE, ARMAGEDDON, DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, THE FIFTH ELEMENT and THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU. He also led the team that earned an Emmy for Best Visual Effects for the pilot episode of EARTH 2.

Simone Pillinger has been promoted to executive producer at Spontaneous Combustion, the digital studio specializing in design, visual effects and animation for the advertising, broadcast and film industries. Since February 2000, she has served as Spontaneous' senior producer. From 1997 to 2000, she freelanced for a number of firms including Electra Records and ATTIK. Pillinger's commercial credits include AT&T (Young & Rubicam/New York, NY), NFL (NFL Properties Advertising and Design Department/New York, NY), Tropicana (FCB/New York, NY), T.J.

Mainframe Entertainment, Inc. has appointed Lou Novak as chief executive officer. In his new role, Novak will provide strategic direction as well as oversee all business and operational aspects of Mainframe. Prior to joining Mainframe, Novak served as president and CEO of Videosnap, a streaming media application service provider based in New York. Novak has held senior management positions at Galoob, Mattel and Coleco. In addition, Mainframe's former CEO Ian Pearson will assume the newly created position of chief creative officer.