* The CanWest Global-backed consortium which is bidding for the new Channel 5 licence in the u.k. has signed John Fairley as chief executive. Fairley was managing director of Yorkshire Television.

* Effective July 10, Toronto drama critic Richard Ouzounian will become creative head of arts programming at tvo.

* Greg Ferris has been promoted to senior vp, marketing for Paramount Pictures Canada.

* Radio-Canada head of drama Claude Maher will resign Aug. 31.

* Peter Miller has been promoted to senior vp of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. He will continue his duties as general counsel.

* Calgary-based actor Brian Gromoff has been elected the new president of actra.

* Bruce Glawson has left Cambium Film and Video Productions to start a yet-to-be-named independent production company, to open this fall.

* Dan Johnson has been promoted the position of president/ceo at the Canadian Association of Film Distributors and Exporters.

* Francois Carignan has joined Television Quatre Saisons in the newly created post of executive producer, news, public affairs and sports. Carignan produced Le hockey des Nordiques for tqs in past seasons and is currently delegate producer of Baseball Labatt des Expos.

* At Paragon Entertainment, Steve Jarosz has been promoted to vp, finance, Harry Tremain moves into the newly-created position of vp, banking and project financing, and Dinny Relacion has been named corporate controller.

At Paragon International, Kirstine Layfield has been promoted to senior vp and Mary Pat Flores has been promoted to distribution controller. And three new staff members have been added to the Paragon International team: Jenny Hacker has been named to the newly created position of director of business affairs, Teresa Frisani has been appointed contract administrator, and Shannon McCarthy has been named sales executive for selected territories.