CCR People

Alliance Atlantis Communications has upped Phyllis Yaffe to CEO of the company’s broadcasting group from president. Mark Rubinstein, formerly managing director for Yahoo! Canada, and before that senior VP and general manager at ChumCity TV group, becomes president and COO. He will report to Yaffe. These two appointments are effective April 9. As well Norm Bolen, currently senior VP of programming at Showcase and History Television, was advanced to executive VP of programming at Alliance Atlantis Broadcasting. Barb Williams has been appointed senior VP of lifestyle programming. Williams will be responsible for programming for the launch of all new lifestyle channels, including the Health Network, while continuing to manage program development for existing channels HGTV, Life Network, and Food Network Canada. Sydney Suissa moves to senior VP of factual programming from VP of programming at History Television. She will work on the launch of non-fiction channels, such as National Geographic Canada and National Geographic Adventure One. Laura Michalchyshyn has been promoted to senior VP of dramatic programming from VP of programming at Showcase. She will take on programming responsibilities for some new digital channels, including those devoted to romance and action. Janet Eastwood, who is being promoted to executive VP of marketing, communications and creative from senior VP, will oversee the marketing of Alliance Atlantis’ new digital channels. Also getting promoted is Kathleen Brown, who moves from VP to senior VP of business and legal affairs. She will oversee all the programming licensing agreements and the legal affairs of Alliance Atlantis Broadcasting. Harvey Rogers, who was upped to senior VP from VP of engineering and operations, is responsible for the company’s studios and technical facilities. Bradley Alles was promoted to senior VP from VP of sales and promotions to reflect his increased responsibilities for online sales and for generating advertising for the new specialty channels. At Alliance Atlantis Television Distribution, Jennifer Bennett was promoted to VP of merchandising and licensing. At the company’s Pictures International division, Ariel Veneziano has been named director of international sales. He comes from Menemsha Entertainment. John Kuyk has been appointed senior manager, and Gilbert Crepeau has been named operations manager of CJNT, the Montreal-based multicultural television station that CanWest Global Communications Corp acquired in January 2001. Kuyk was part of the Radiomutuel task force that launched specialty channels Canal Vie and Canal Z. An advisory board has been formed to provide advice and direction to the station’s management. The board consists of Bev Oda; Cynthia Lam, executive director of the Chinese Family Services of Greater Montreal; Fares Khoury, president of the firm Etude Economique Conseil; John Ciaccia, a multicultural relations expert; and Jonathan Goldbloom, communications advisor to Global and an active member of the city’s Jewish community. The station will be re-launched this September. Chris Johnson has joined the Vision TV family in the year-long position of chief strategist. He will be responsible for guiding the programming and scheduling of Vision TV as well as its Category 1 digital specialty channel service Wisdom: Body, Mind & Spirit. Johnson worked from 1987 to 1996 for TVOntario. Tim O’Brien has been appointed president and CEO of Red Apple Entertainment Corp. He will be responsible for all aspects of strategy, operations and corporate development. The Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology named its newest members this month. They are: Susan Whelan (chair - Lib), Walt Lastewka (vice-chair - Lib), Charlie Penson (vice-chair - CA), Reg Alcock (Lib), Mauril Bélanger (Lib), Pierre Brien (BQ), Scott Brison (PC), John Cannis (Lib), Bev Desjarlais (NDP), Jocelyne Girard-Bujold (BQ), Marlene Jennings (Lib), Preston Manning (CA), Dan McTeague (Lib), James Rajotte (CA) and Andy Savoy (Lib). The new members of the Heritage Committee are: Clifford Lincoln (chair - Lib), Dennis Mills (vice-chair – Lib), Cheryl Gallant (vice-chair - CA), Jim Abbott (CA), Paul Bonwick (Lib), Sarmite Bulte (Lib), Rodger Cuzner (Lib), Christiane Gagnon (BQ), Gurmant Grewal (CA), John Harvard (Lib), André Harvey (Lib), Loyola Hearn (PC), Wendy Lill (NDP), Caroline St-Hilaire (BQ) and Andrew Telegdi (Lib).

CCR People

Broadcast | February 28, 2001

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