PRODUCTION COMPANIES
Anonymous Content signed Oscar-winning director Gavin Hood (Tsotsi) for commercials.

Venice-based Backyard signed German-born director Jan Wentz for North American spots.

Bicoastal/international prodco Believe Media added director Tryan George to its roster.

Bicoastal Brand New School hired Dan Sormani, formerly a senior producer with Stardust, as head of production in NYC.

Feel Films signed Matt Carter, most recently with Love, for commercial rep in the UK.

New York-based Good Films signed comedy director Maggie Zackheim in the US.

Bicoastal HKM signed directors Siraj Jhaveri (ex-@radical.media) and Matt Ogens (ex-Headquarters) for exclusive US rep.

Bicoastal Imaginary Forces signed Mark Gardner (formerly with Kemistry) for commercial rep from its New York office.

Leeds-based Mob North signed directorial duo RAP (Rick Ward and Pete Camponi) for commercial representation.

Manhattan-based prodco Nola signed directors Rick Knief and Juan Delcán.

Santa Monica-based Plum Productions signed Gavin Bowden for commercials and hired executive producer Beth Pearson.

Saville Productions signed Argentina-based director Fabián Bielinsky and Italy's Federico Brugia for the US.

Director Eric King (ex-Headquarters) signed with Tate USA for exclusive spot rep in the US, Canada (via Industry Films, Toronto) and the UK (via Bow & Arrow).

Hollywood-based Über Content signed director Ramaa Mosley, formerly with Park Pictures.

POST/AUDIO/ANIMATION
LA-based design/animation prodco Buck hired designer Stephen Kelleher.

Miami-based editorial shop Circolo Edit hired editor Jorge Vallejo.

Finger Music, with offices in Santa Monica and London, signed composer/sound designer Richard Devine.

New York-based Fluid Music hired Ian

Jeffreys, most recently head of his own company Cilantro Music, as a music producer.

Portland animation studio LAIKA named Al Cubillas, most recently VP of digital operations, as vice president, head of technology.

Toronto broadcast design company Loopmedia hired designer Steven Hollman and promoted Jane Broadfoot from producer to senior producer.

Bicoastal editing facility Lost Planet named Sue Romweber (ex-FCB NY) as sr. producer.

The Mill London hired Gilbert (Gil) James, formerly with MPC, as senior 3D producer.

Chicago-based post-production shop Optimus named Rick Thompson as design director for its graphics team.

Kevin Anderson (formerly with Filmcore) and Adriana Legay joined the roster at Venice Beach-based Rex Edit.

Matthew McManus (formerly with Radium) joined RIOT Santa Monica as exec producer.

LA-based VFX boutique Sway Studios signed director/digital DP John Allardice.

Santa Monica-based VFX/telecine house The Syndicate hired Ben Grossman as VFX supervisor and creative director.

Brazilian design/motion graphics whiz Nando Costa joined bicoastal Transistor Studios' New York office as design director.

AD AGENCIES
AMV.BBDO chairman/CEO Michael Baulk is retiring in July after 20 years with the company. Cilla Snowball, the current chairman of AMV.BBDO and Proximity London, was named as his successor with the title of chairman/CEO of AMV Group.

Steve Meraska was appointed SVP, managing partner, for Leo Burnett Toronto, and was also named to the management team.

Carmichael Lynch hired Joe Grundhoefer, former exec producer at Fallon, as director of broadcast services, senior partner.

Seattle-based Cole & Weber United promoted Jim Elliott from associate creative director to creative director and partner.

DDB New York named Scott Grayson and Richard Sharp group creative directors. Charlotte Little and Cassandra Anderson were promoted to associate creative directors.

Former Saatchi & Saatchi California CCO Steve Rabosky was hired as president/CCO for West Hollywood-based Dailey & Associates. Rabosky replaces Mike Folino, who left Dailey last summer for the CCO position at DDB, Chicago.

Euro RSCG Chicago named Rob Tripas, formerly interactive EP at Crispin Porter + Bogusky, as SVP, director of interactive services.

Joel Rodriguez joined Fallon Minneapolis as GCD from TBWA\Chiat\Day NY. At Fallon London, Juan Cabral and Micah Walker were promoted to CDs, and Andy McLeod and Richard Flintham to ECDs.

JWT named Aris Theophilakis, most recently Springer & Jacoby group CCO, as global CD for Unilever business.

Ogilvy & Mather, NY promoted GCD Andy Berndt to MD. At O&M London, Alasdair Graham was named creative partner.

HOOKUPS
New York-based animation studio Curious Pictures announced an agreement with gaming company gameLab, with the two companies partnering on creative development and production of downloadable online games.

London prodco Godman announced plans to close in the face of what a company-issued press release referred to as a "backdrop of continued pressure on prices and margins". While financially sound, managing director Ed Sayers says operations will wind down over the next couple of months, and he will continue to handle enquiries regarding Godman's directorial roster until they "find new homes".

Global media distribution company BEAM.TV increased its number of international offices to 12 with the launch of BEAM.TV Canada, located in Toronto.

Interpublic Group co-chairman David Bell announced his retirement. He'll continue to be available as a part-time consultant for a five-year period, holding the title of chairman emeritus.

Minneapolis-based music and sound design company Echo Boys launched a music-licensing division helmed by veteran ad music producer Steve McCabe. Most recently McCabe served as ACD/senior copywriter/senior broadcast producer at Doe Anderson Advertising/Louisville.

Grey Worldwide added nine members to its Toronto creative team: Gerald Schoenhoff (VP, associate CD, senior AD); Dave Stevenson (associate CD, direct and interactive); Todd Henwood (associate CD, senior AD/web designer); Steve Forrester (AD/web designer); Vikki Kuzmich (director, print production); Camielle Clark (director, creative services, broadcast production); Jason Buback (senior writer); Shoshanna Addley (senior writer/direct and interactive), and Linsey Stewart (copywriter).

The expansion at London-based post-production facility Rushes continues. New hires include VFX artists Roisin Dunstall, Martin Goodwin and Richard White, and senior producers Toby Abbott, Ali Wendt, Emma Watterson and Debby Eden. Rushes also added a motion control studio managed by cameraman John Wenman.