* Rick Brace has been appointed president of NetStar Sports and senior vp of CTV Sports and Outdoor Life Network.

Brace’s broadcasting career has spanned more than 25 years, 15 of which he worked at tsn, most recently as its president. At tmn he also held the posts of exec vp and gm, vp of programming, director of programming, exec producer and producer. Before joining tsn, he was a producer and director with the cbc.

His appointment follows the resignation of Suzanne Steeves as senior vp and gm of CTV Sports.

Steeves joined the company five years ago as head of entertainment in-house production. Since then she has been part of the team that implemented the company’s specialty service strategy.

* Cindy Witten has been appointed director of independent productions for History Television. Witten was previously a program exec with Life Network and hgtv where she played a key role in the development and production of such series as Dogs With Jobs, Savoir Faire, Shift tv and the upcoming Birth Stories.

* Alliance Atlantis Television Distribution has announced the promotion of Maria Sanchez to managing director for European operations. She assumes her new post in London, Eng. on July 1 after two years as sales director for Latin America.

Katherine Kaufman assumes the Latin American sales position in aac’s Los Angeles office.

* Former international program sales executive Marie-Claude Poulin has left her post as gap manager at financing agency fidec to join Melenny Productions as vp production.

* Lisa Wolofsky, formerly of completion bond company Film Finances Canada (1998), has been appointed manager of gap financing at Quebec agency fidec. She reports to fidec president Pierre Leblanc. Wolofsky earlier worked with GFT Kingsborough Pictures.

* cbc veteran Joe Novak, regional director of tv for Alberta, has announced his resignation after 25 years with the corporation.