Exec Shuffle

By VARIETY STAFF

The Jim Henson Co. has upped May Chin to account manager in the consumer products division.

In her new position, Chin will be responsible for product management pertaining to development for the MGM Studios Store at Muppet Vision 3-D in Disney World Florida. She will also handle the properties of "Go to Bed Fred," "Peek-a-Boo Lizzy Lou," "Classic Muppets" and "Bear in the Big Blue House."

Chin joined company in 1993 as an assistant in consumer products and most recently worked with the senior account manager on product development.

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Iwerks Entertainment has tapped Marianne Cheyne VP of entertainment and retail sales.

Cheyne will be responsible for increasing Iwerks' presence in new and emerging markets, including the retail and gaming industries, as part of the company's overall aggressive sales strategy. She reports to Jack Shishido, senior VP of worldwide sales and marketing.

Prior to joining Iwerks, Cheyne served as VP, marketing and sales for Spectra Entertainment. Before that, she was with Showscan Entertainment for eight years where she held several positions including director of marketing and executive director of sales.

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Former Boss Film Studios exec Michael Sweeney has joined Buena Vista Imaging as visual effects producer for the Disney-owned f/x shop.

In his new role, Sweeney will oversee all technical aspects of visual effects production for the department.

Sweeney, who began his career working on "Star Wars" for Industrial Light and Magic, also worked on pics "Willow" and "Who Framed Roger Rabbit."

In addition, he was executive producer for Boss Film Studios, working on "Waterworld," "Batman Returns" and "Alien 3." Other credits include "Air Force One" and "Cliffhanger."

BVIM, based on Disney's Burbank lot, specializes in 2-D optical and digital film effects. House most recently worked on "The Waterboy," "You've Got Mail" and "A Civil Action."

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Robert R. Newman has been upped from director to VP finance and accounting for the American Film Marketing Assn.

In his new post, Newman will direct all the association's financial activities, including the fiscal management of the American Film Market.

Robert joined AFMA in 1990, and recently concluded his 10th AFM.

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FasTV has named two key executives. Chuck Ball has been tapped VP of marketing and business development and Barry Layne as veep, programming and production.

In his new position, Ball will oversee marketing, advertising sales and business development activities, including establishing e-commerce, distribution and other strategic partnerships.

Layne now assumes the chief programming and production role after serving as the company's VP of marketing. He is also responsible for the site's content areas.

Ball was most recently exec VP and general manager of the Magnitude Network. Prior to joining FasTV, Layne was lead Internet exec for Cendant Software.

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Paul Lewis has joined Gotham-based Gist Communications as VP, advertising sales.

Lewis joins Gist from iVillage.com where he served as veep, sales operations. He has also served in several positions at Prodigy.

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Rainbow Media's MuchMusic USA has named Christine Ohama western regional director, responsible for affiliate relations, marketing and sales for MuchMusic in California, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Idaho, Montana and Alaska.

Ohama joins MuchMusic from Bravo and the Independent Film Channel where she was the western regional marketing manager.

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MegaSystems has appointed Paul A. Giguere regional VP of worldwide commercial sales for Europe, Africa and the Middle East and Jeremy P. Wellman as VP of commercial theater development.

Giguere joins MegaSystems from Edwards Technologies, where he was VP of sales and marketing. He previously was director of marketing for Sonics Associates working in the themed entertainment and museum marketplace.

Welman was most recently theater director of the Great Smokies Mega-Theater in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Prior to that, he served as exec director of Edwards Imax Theaters as well as managing director of Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21 and Imax 3-D Theater. Welman has additionally held various positions at Harkins Theatres, Loews Theatres and SoCal Cinemas.

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Salter Street announced the appointment of Kathleen McNair to the new position of VP general counsel in Halifax, Canada.

McNair comes after a stint as a partner in the Ottawa law firm Johnston and Buchan.

Halifax-based Salter Street Films develops, produces and distributes film and TV programming.

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MegaSystems has appointed Paul A. Giguere regional VP of worldwide commercial sales for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and Jeremy P. Wellman as VP of commercial theater development.

Giguere joins MegaSystems from Edwards Technologies, where he was VP of sales and marketing. He previously was director of marketing for Sonics Associates,working in the themed entertainment and museum marketplace.

Welman was most recently theater director of the Great Smokies MegaTheater in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Prior to that, he served as exec director of Edwards IMAX Theaters as well as managing director of Edward Irvine Spectrum 21 and IMAX 3-D Theater. Welman has additionally held various positions at Harkins Theatres, Loews Theatres and SoCal Cinemas.

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Salter Street Films Limited, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, has announced the appointment of Kathleen McNair to the new position of VP, general counsel.

McNair was previously a partner in the Ottawa law firm Johnston and Buchan.

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ESPN has named M.C. Antil director of corporate communications.

Antil, who spent the last five years as head of public relations for the cable industry marketing org CTAM, will have responsibilities that include advertising, affiliate marketing, consumer marketing and research.

Antil will report directly to Rosa Gatti, ESPN senior VP, communications.

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Capitol Records has tapped two key execs. Ron Laffitte has been named VP, A&R, and Unice Rice has been appointed VP, R&B promotion.

In his new position, Laffitte will sign and help develop new artists, as well as take over A&R responsibilities for several acts already signed with the label. He joins Capitol after four years as senior VP and general manager, West Coast, for Elektra Entertainment.

Rice's duties will now include the development and implementation of promotional strategies to enhance the careers of R&B artists under the Capitol and associated labels. He will cultivate relationships with radio, the industry and trade publications.

Previously, Rice was VP, promotion, at Ruthless Records. Prior to that, he was instrumental in launching Giant Records R&B Promotion Department in 1992.

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Cinesite Visual Effects has tapped senior creative director Carlos Arguello to head an expanded creative art department, and has added creative director Lubo Kristov and senior art director John Mann to its roster.

Since joining the company in 1994, Arguello has served as visual effects supervisor on "Armageddon," "Sphere" and "Space Jam."

Kristov is a recent transplant from Cinesite (Europe) in London. His feature credits include "Event Horizon," "Lost in Space" and "Spawn."

Mann will supervise Cinesite's team of conceptual artists, matte painters and production designers. He previously headed the art department at now defunct Boss Films Studios, where he worked on "Species" and "Outbreak." He was also a freelance artist on "Godzilla" and "Stargate."

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Andre Provencher has been upped to prexy of TVA International, signaling the company's expansion into original production and global distribution.

In his previous post as veep of programming for TVA network, Provencher increased the French-language television market share from 32 to 37.

Now, as prexy, Provencher will continue to serve the net as a programming adviser.

Provencher joined TVA in 1988, after a stint with broadcast journalism, which included serving as general manager at CHLN radio and as news and public affairs director for CKTM-TV and CFKM-TV.

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The Hearst Corp. has upped T.R. "Rocky" Shepard III to president and Keith A. McCloat to VP, business manager of King Features Syndicate, distributor of comics and editorial features to some 5,000 newspapers worldwide.

Working with Hearst since 1978, Shepard most recently served as senior VP, advertising sales, of Hearst New Media & Technology's HomeArts.com.

McCloat, former VP, joined Hearst in 1979 and has held several positions in finance at King Features.

King Features Syndicate properties include "Beetle Bailey," "Blondie," "Popeye" and "Dennis the Menace." The company also distributes newspaper columns for Dan Rather, Dr. Joyce Brothers and Dr. Ruth Westheimer.

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Mark Lieberman has been tapped as president of MiningCo.com Ventures, the Internet news, information and entertainment service, where he will be responsible for mergers and acquisitions, international expansion and the continued development of the company's 18 vertical channels.

Lieberman joins MiningCo.com from a stint as exec VP of Cahners Business Information, publisher of more than 30 print, database and online businesses, including Variety and Daily Variety.

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Forbes Inc. has named Catherine Lukas to ad director of Forbes ASAP, the technology supplement to Forbes magazine. Based in Burlingame, Calif., Lukas will oversee the publication's ad sales.

Lukas joined Forbes in 1998 as an ad sales rep. Previously, she was district sales manager for CMP Media's NetGuide.

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Diana Schultz has been tapped director of special markets for Intertainer, an interactive network providing on-demand entertainment programming to the cable and telecommunication industries.

In her new post, Schultz will helm the implementation of Intertainer tech into the specialized markets of airlines, hotels and cruise lines.

Previously, Schultz was manager of entertainment services at Sony Trans Com. She's also consulted for IBM and AT&T on new media projects

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Jenny Harris has been upped to exec producer of CNN's "Moneyline News Hour," the all-news cabler has announced.

Harris, who had been senior broadcast producer of the program, will report to CNN Financial News exec VP Jeff Gralnick, who will remain the exec in charge of the broadcast.

In other CNN Financial News appointments, Mia Haugen has been named exec producer of daytime programming for CNNfn, while Eric Gonon has been tapped to exec produce primetime programs for CNN's biz news sister net.

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Scott Hillier has been tapped by Image Group Entertainment as director of production.

Based in the company's New York office, Hillier will report to Michael Schlossman, IGE's VP of production and development. Currently, Hillier is producing a one-hour special for the Discovery Channel with Schlossman.

Prior to joining IGE, Hillier was a producer at BBC TV's foreign affairs unit, where he covered the Gulf War. He also served as producer and director on the documentaries "The Bushman Trail" and "The Wild West Bison Drive".

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Jennifer Burak has been promoted to regional director of East Coast sales for the Image Bank, a growing stock image service company that is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Entertainment Imaging division of Eastman Kodak Co.

Currently general manager of the Gotham office, Burak will continue in her current capacity while assuming responsibility of overseeing sales operations in the Eastern time zone.

Burak joined the Image Bank in 1990 as a film account exec with the launch of that division. Prior to that, she worked in commercial production.