Fox Kids Europe has swiftly replaced Fox Kids U.K. managing director Ron Henwood, who left last month to set up Prism Entertainment-an interactive business aimed at kids and teens-with former Fox Kids creative director Myke Crosby. His replacement is the highly respected Annie Miles, who quits her current role as Granada director of animation in January 2000 to take up the new post.

For Miles, the Fox job should represent an easy readjustment to the world of U.K. multi-channels television. In the early `90s, she was head of Flextech-owned TCC, the now-defunct kids network that struggled to compete with Nick, Cartoon and Disney.

Like TCC, Fox Kids U.K. also trails its rivals by some way in the ratings. But the Rupert Murdoch-owned network has much greater financial and programming muscle for Miles to draw upon. Currently, FKUK reaches a 1 million kids a month.

Although the Fox post appears to be tailor-made for Miles, her sudden departure from Granada is something of a surprise. She was drafted into the company in 1997 from rival studio Cosgrove Hall to help build an animation slate from scratch. To date, with the exception of preschool property Tom & Vicky, the company has had limited impact in the market.

Granada Media Group and Australia’s Seven Network recently announced plans to create a joint venture TV prodco to serve the Australian market, formed to develop content for The Seven Network, unnamed international TV networks and pay TV operators. However, details about the joint venture were not available at press time. Last year, Granada acquired Artist Services out of Melbourne.