• David Maisel has been tapped as the new chairman of Marvel Studios, while Kevin Feige assumes the post of president of production. The appointments come as Marvel Studios moves into to self-produced and self-financed feature film making for its superhero franchises. The first film on the studios’ slate, Iron Man begins principle photography this week.
Maisel joined Marvel in 2003 and was responsible for the execution of the company’s film production initiative, while Feige started at Marvel in 2000, serving in various producer positions on the Spider-Man films.
• Across the pond, Jetix Europe has announced that Chiara Cipriani is taking the newly created position of head of digital. Chiara will report to Mel Alcock, SVP of commercial affairs, Jetix Europe. In the new role, Cipriani is responsible for Jetix Europe’s digital strategy, defining its online initiatives and re-evaluating its current digital properties. Cipriani previously was the director of television for The Poker Channel.
• Still across the Atlantic, Joerg Trouvain has been named SVP of European publishing at Santa Monica, California-based game co Activision’s UK office. Previously, Trouvain was senior VP of sales and marketing at GN NETCOM and has held various positions at Electronic Arts, most recently as MD and VP of Germany, Austria and Switzerland operations.