Exec Shuffle

By VARIETY STAFF

Fox Broadcasting Co. has tapped Tony Optican as director of current programming and Matthew Cherniss as programming executive, current programming.

In their new role as current programming execs, Optican and Cherniss will act as the key liaisons between Fox Broadcasting Co. and producers of Fox programming.

Prior to joining Fox, Optican served as director, creative affairs for MGM Worldwide Television Group, where he participated in all phases of development and current programming for drama, comedy and reality-based series.

Cherniss began his Fox career in research and marketing in 1994 as an analyst in audience research.

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Miriam Claire Beezy has been named partner Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp, ankling her post as senior trademark counsel for the Walt Disney Co.

While at Disney, Beezy helmed all trademark matters for the company and its affiliates/subsidiaries worldwide, including merchandising, films, television, theme parks and software.

Beezy still serves as an arbitrator of film title disputes at the Motion Picture Association of America. She also speaks frequently for the industry trade organizations Software Publishers Association and the International Trademark Assn.

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Fox Family Channel has upped two key development executives. Kim Christianson has been named VP of programming and development, and Brian Casentini has been tapped director of programming development.

As VP, Christianson will be responsible for developing and overseeing new animated daytime series including "Mega Babies" and "Rotten Ralph," and will continue to oversee current series.

Prior to joining Fox Family Channel, Christianson served as director of development at Saban Entertainment.

Casentini will now supervise several key projects including "The Kids From Room 402" and "Ripley's Believe It or Not! The Series."

He was previously manager of development and programming for Fox.

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Promax & BDA have upped Suzanne Marie Gutierrez from director to VP, sales and marketing.

Based in Los Angeles, Gutierrez will continue to oversee sponsorships for all worldwide conferences, as well as advertising sales for company publications and exhibition floor space at the annual June conference.

Gutierrez spent several years working in advertising sales for trade publications. Prior to joining Promax, she served as Variety's studio representative. She also served a stint as director of worldwide advertising at Moving Pictures Intl.

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King World Prods. has tapped Jay Redack VP of production.

In his new position, Redack will oversee production on the new daily syndicated series "Hollywood Squares."

Redack, a gameshow vet, served as producer/head gag writer on the original version of the show. Most recently, Redack served as a consultant to King World on the new series.

After his tenure on the original series, Redack founded the production company Rappa Tappa Inc., which had exclusive development deals with Columbia Pictures Television and Coca-Cola.