Looks like National Geographic/Nat Geo Kids is bringing all licensing efforts in-house. The company’s consumer products arm has just appointed Besty Roach as director for television and film properties. Roach hails from Westchester, New York-based Lisa Marks & Associates, where she spent six years as global licensing manager for the National Football League.
The indie licensing agency had been developing property strategies for Nat Geo Kids’ Toot & Puddle (of Holly Hobbie book fame), as well as upcoming original feature film Sea Monsters 3-D, which is set to hit theaters this fall.
Dennis Hoffman has joined Vancouver, Canada-based Rainmaker Visual Effects as head of production. Hoffman is a 20-year production vet and was most recently VP/head of production at Digital Domain. He also previously spent nine years at Dream Quest Images, where he oversaw the visual effects on such films as Mighty Joe Young and Armageddon.