PRODUCTION COMPANIES
2am Films in London signed feature director Michael Winterbottom (Road to Guantanamo) for worldwide spot representation.

New York's Chelsea Pictures signed South African director Kevin Fitzgerald.

New York's Basecamp, a new satellite of Cohn and Co., signed director David Levin, formerly of Hungry Man.

Montreal-based La Fabrique opened in Toronto with John Smythe, formerly of Partners' Films, as EP.

London's Hotspur & Argyle signed directing team Big Red Button.

Santa Monica's The Joneses signed director Peter Harton for exclusive US commercial representation.

LA's kaboom productions signed Icelandic director Reynir Lyngdal for commerical representation in the US.

New York's Lost Highway Films added directors Mike Patterson and Sasha Greer Levinson to its roster.

Partizan in London signed Barney Howells for worldwide commercial and music video representation.

Bicoastal Saville Productions signed spot director Lance Kelleher for US rep.

Bicoastal Shilo hired Santino Sladavic, formerly of Blind, as west coast executive producer.

London-based Stink hired former Boards associate editor Mark Pytlik as digital producer.

Toronto's Suneeva signed director Julian Pugsley to its roster.

The Sweet Shop NY signed Paul Riccio to its roster.

POST/AUDIO/ANIMATION
Tarzana, CA motion graphics and design studio AvatarLabs hired Donna Arrogante as online media designer.

Dallas editorial house charlieuniformtango hired editor Travis Aitken.

New York-based Bionic launched a design division headed up by EP Tommy Shay and hired design director Jun Lee and senior designer Dennis Cheung.

New York's Creative Bubble promoted senior flame artist Doug Dimon to CD.

New York music house Ear Goo hired Jon Tropea Jr. as CD.

Finger Music LA added composer Wendell Yuponce and sound designer Onnalee Blank to its roster.

London's Framestore CFC shifted its managerial line-up: Helen Stanley becomes MD, commercials; Lottie Cooper is deputy MD and Kirsty Cleminson becomes facilities manager.

London's Golden Square hired VFX artist Aidan Thomas and hired Bryony Harrison to head its digital wing, Disqo.

Toronto animation studio Guru hired Susan Ma and Skye Bjarnason as producers.

Denver post house !mpossible Pictures named Ed Kramer as VFX supervisor.

Venice-based King Cut Editorial hired Hannah Yates as EP, Ari Braverman as associate producer and editor Megan Bee.

Mad River Post, Detroit hired editor Chris Chynoweth.

Toronto's Relish and 567vfx hired Rebecca Ross as EP.

Bicoastal The Whitehouse added Dan Maloney to its editorial roster.

AD AGENCIES
BBDO, New York CCO Bill Bruce stepped into the role of chairman for the New York office. He will continue to oversee the office's creative output.

BBDO, Singapore appointed Danny Searle as chairman/chief creative officer. Searle, currently creative director at Clemenger BBDO Sydney will assume the position in July 2007.

BETC Euro RSCG Paris named Stéphane Xiberras and Raphaël De Andréis as co-presidents.

Charlotte, NC's BooneOakley hired Craig Jelniker as head of broadcast production.

Minneapolis-based Campbell Mithun promoted Steve Wehrenberg to CCO from EVP.

DDB Canada, Vancouver promoted Daryl Gardiner to ACD and hired art director Chris Moore and copywriter Jeff Galbraith.

Deutsch, New York promoted associate creative director George Decker to VP, ACD.

New York-based Droga5 hired Ted Royer as executive creative director. Royer moves from Publicis Worldwide where he was global creative/creative director.

Former SVP/associate director of production at Grey, New York, Aaron Royer, is now SVP, creative - integrated operations at Lifetime.

Mother, New York hired seasoned creative Bill Moulton, strategist David Fuller, creative manager Stephanie Rand, creatives Peter Karras and Piers North, as well as 'mother' Christopher Pieretti.

New York's R/GA hired Taras Wayner as executive creative director.

Wieden + Kennedy, Portland creative director Mike Folino, who was the lead creative on Nike, departed the agency in March. Details of his departure and his next move were unknown at press time.

HOOKUPS> MERGERS, PARTNERSHIPS AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE INDUSTRY
TBWA\Chiat\Day North America ECD Chuck McBride has launched his new agency Cutwater with the backing of TBWA parent company Omnicom. Joining McBride is president Brad Harrington, formerly co-president of Cole & Weber, Seattle, and strategic planning head Rob Klingensmith, formerly TBWA\Chiat\Day San Francisco's planning director. Jennifer Golub is head of broadcast.

Bicoastal edit house Lost Planet launched Elephant, a sister post-production creative studio that will house high-def post facilities. Managing director Betsy Beale will head the new operation, and hired former Red Car smoke and flame artists Chris Homel and Amanda Elliot.

Toronto post houses Flashcut and 3rd Floor Editing re-branded and will offer editorial and motion graphics services under the new moniker, Rooster. The company was founded by partners Mick Griffin, Bob Kennedy, Tim Kirkwood, Chris Parkins, Richard Unruh and Mary Beth Odell.

TV, video and web content producer Interface Media Group, was bought by the company's VP Jeff Weingarten, from founder/ president Tom Angell. Weingarten become president and Angell will become 'chief opinionator.'

Former agency creative and director Ed Schumacher opened a prodco in LA called Boy Genius. The first name on the roster is copywriter-turned-director Scott Corbett. Joe Pistorio joined as head of production.

Hollywood animation company ka-chew! opened a live action wing called Punch Company. Veteran rep Ellen Knable steps into the role of EP and ka-chew! senior producer Nathalie Renard becomes head of production. Directors Kirby Dick, Gary Johns, John Lindauer and Suzanne Luna joined the roster.

Design/animation company PandaPanther launched in New York. The firm is headed by executive producer Lydia Holness and designer/directors Jonathan Garin and Naomi Nishimura.

Robin Benson, formerly of Villains, opened prodco Company in LA. The directorial roster includes Philippe Andre, The Coen Brothers, Fred Goss, Sara Marandi, David McNally, Jeff Thomas and Harald Zwart.

Philadelphia's Shooters Post & Transfer launched a cinema services/post boutique called DIVE, which is headed by Mark Forker, former visual effects supervisor at Digital Domain.