North America

Anagram (Minneapolis, Minnesota, 612-949-5823): Rick Mallow joins as director of licensing for North and South America. Anagram manufactures mylar balloons.

Discovery Networks (Bethesda, Maryland, 301-986-1999): Joan Kelly has been named director of network distribution for affiliate sales and marketing. Kelly will be responsible for assisting with the negotiation of affiliate contracts for Discovery Networks in satellite, commercial, new media and Canadian markets. Jim Boyle promoted to senior VP, marketing and communications. Boyle will oversee all international efforts in the areas of branding, print marketing, communications and media relations. Chris Haws promoted to senior VP and executive producer, Discovery Networks, International. Haws will be responsible for stimulating, coordinating and enhancing the original production efforts for all of Discovery’s international networks.

Fox Family Worldwide (Los Angeles, California, 310-235-5539): Hubert Smith Jr. joins as VP, business and legal affairs. He will be responsible for all business and legal affairs relating to Fox prime-time development and programming. Previously, Smith was director and counsel, business and legal affairs at Twentieth Television, a unit of Fox Television.

Golden Books Family Entertainment (New York, New York, 212-547-6700): Eric Ellenbogen promoted to president. Ellenbogen will be responsible for the development of the company’s creative products across all media. Richard Collins promoted to chief operating officer.

Harcourt Brace Children’s Books (San Diego, California, 619-699-6777): Andrea Cavallaro promoted to subsidiary rights director for the company’s children’s books division. Prior to the promotion, Cavallaro served as subsidiary rights manager for five years.

Harvey Consumer Products (Los Angeles, California, 310-789-1990): Carol McGovney joins as director of domestic licensing. Previously, McGovney was director of licensing for the West Coast office of Leisure Concepts licensing agency.

Hasbro (Pawtucket, Rhode Island, 401-431-8697): Willa Perlman joins as general manager, new business development, global marketing. Perlman previously served as president and publisher of Golden Books Children’s Publishing Group. She will be responsible for developing new initiatives in the preschool, games and entertainment categories.

Hearst Entertainment (New York, New York, 212-455-4000): Gustavo Basalo promoted to managing director, international network development for Hearst’s Entertainment and Syndication Group. Hearst is partnered with the Cisneros Group of Companies in The Locomotion Channel, a 24-hour Spanish-language all-animation network available via satellite and cable in Mexico, Central and South America, Spain and Portugal. Basalo comes to Hearst from The Locomotion Channel, where he was general manager for the last 15 months.

Jim Henson Television (Los Angeles, California, 213-960-4096): Marcy Ross promoted to senior VP, creative affairs. Ross will be responsible for overseeing children’s programming, prime-time television programming, including the conceptualization, development and production of new series, TV movies and specials. Halle Stanford Grossman promoted to VP, creative affairs. She will now be responsible for the creative oversight of direct-to-video children’s programs, as well as continuing to manage the development of children’s programming, including animated and live-action projects. Antonia Downey promoted to senior director of international legal and business affairs. Cathy Laughton promoted to director, international sales. Peter van Roden promoted to senior VP, production and theme entertainment. Van Roden will be responsible for all of the company’s New York production activities, including Nickelodeon’s The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss and Bear in the Big Blue House for Disney. He will also oversee the development of theme parks and live shows.

Library Video Company (Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, 610-645-4000): Ellen Trachtenberg promoted to video buyer. Library Video Company is a distributor of video and CD-ROM programs to the educational market. Trachtenberg, a former teacher, will review all videos submitted for distribution.

MGM Consumer Products (Santa Monica, California, 310-449-3000): Doug Gleason promoted to senior VP, worldwide sales and marketing. His responsibilities will include managing day-to-day operations including the development of sales and marketing activity, supervising the development of licensing strategies, developing business in new markets and coordinating efforts within the company’s film, television and home video groups. Susan McMurray joins as VP, international sales. McMurray will be responsible for business operations in non-U.S. territories and she will work on all MGM properties, including the Pink Panther.

Nickelodeon (New York, New York, 212-258-7500): Russell Hicks promoted to group VP, creative and marketing, Nickelodeon consumer products. Hicks will oversee Nickelodeon’s consumer products creative and marketing groups, which are responsible for creating a dynamic retail look for Nickelodeon’s brands and hit properties. Gail Stern promoted to VP, soft goods and property management, Nickelodeon licensing. Stern will spearhead property development plans and their implementation within the licensing group.

Pax Net (New York, New York, 212-836-4346): Jeff Sagansky joins as president and CEO of Paxson Communications. Sagansky was most recently co-president of Sony Pictures Entertainment. Pax Net is a family-oriented network that will launch on August 31.

Sony Wonder (New York, New York, 212-833-8100): Hillary Bratton promoted to manager, audio and recording. Bratton will be involved in all levels of production for Sony Wonder projects such as the Sesame Street and The Family Artist audio series. Her new responsibilities include developing concepts for audio releases and overseeing recording productions. Dana Coccara promoted to manager, creative affairs. Coccara will coordinate ongoing television and video productions for Sony Wonder, help to develop projects for broadcast and video release and monitor the entertainment marketplace for potential acquisitions.

Sports Illustrated For Kids (New York, New York, 212-522-2493): Steve Malley promoted to deputy managing editor. Malley’s duties have expanded to include managing the editorial staff and day-to-day operations. Catherine Wolf promoted to assistant managing editor of the books section. Wolf will continue to oversee the creation of a variety of books and special magazines outside the core publication. She will also oversee the editorial direction of Sports Parent, a supplement for parents of subscribers.

Toy Manufacturers of America (New York, New York, 212-633-1429): Peter Eio, president of Lego Systems, has been elected chairman of the board and CEO of TMA. Theodore J. Eischeid, president of Revell-Monogram, a subsidiary of Binney & Smith and Hallmark, is named VP. Newly elected to the TMA board of directors are: George Ditomassi, chairman of Milton Bradley; Daniel Grossman, president of Wild Planet Toys; Ned Mansour, president, corporate operations and general counsel, Mattel; Richard R. Neitz, president of DSI Toys; and Jamie P. O’Rourke, president of Kidpower.

Turner Entertainment Group (Los Angeles, California, 310-788-6902): Michael Flemming promoted to VP, network operations. Flemming will oversee the operations and presentation departments and will be responsible for Cartoon Network and TNT Classic Movies.

The Walt Disney Company (Burbank, California, 818-560-1000): Debbie Bohnett promoted to VP, synergy and special projects. Prior to the appointment, Bohnett served as VP, corporate alliances, overseeing the company’s 10-year promotions alliance with McDonald’s Corporation.

Walt Disney Television Animation (Burbank, California, 818-560-5151): Tom Ruzicka, senior VP, domestic production, resigns after 14 years with the company. An original member of the group that started the TV animation division, Ruzicka will step down at the end of this month. Lenora Hume, senior VP, production, will handle domestic and international production until a replacement for Ruzicka is found. Executive VPs Sharon Morrill and Barry Blumberg have taken over responsibility for day-to-day operations.

Warner Bros. (Burbank, California, 818-954-6000): Brad Ball joins as head of movie marketing. Prior to the appointment, Ball served as an executive at McDonald’s Corporation.

WonderYears Kids Marketing and Advertising (Cincinnati, Ohio, 513-357-2950): Dave Siegal named president. Siegal will head a group of professionals to help marketers reach kids.

International

Canal J (Paris, France, 33-1-49-54-5454): Olivier Dumont hired as acquisitions executive. Dumont previously worked for Europe Image International.

ITEL (London, England, 44-171-389-8728): Rachel Barke promoted to licensing manager with responsibility for the worldwide exploitation of licensing rights for ITEL’s properties and the coordination of licensed product launch and video and publishing activities with television transmissions.

The TV Strategy Group (London, England, 44-171-689-5081): Rosalie Frazier joins as chief operating officer. Frazier will oversee the company’s day-to-day international research and consulting operations. She was most recently director of Asian business development for Frank N. Magid Associates, where she courted channels looking to expand into Asia, including Disney and MTV.

ZDF Enterprises (Mainz, Germany, 49-61-31-9910): Volker Lehmann promoted to head of acquisitions and business affairs. Lehmann will oversee acquisitions and coordinate contracts and administration. Previously, Lehmann served as head of acquisitions for children and youth programs for ZDF.