* Montreal’s Just for Laughs Group has announced it has hired former Cinar Corp. co-CEO Micheline Charest as an international business consultant. Groupe JFL also announced it has hired former Videotron VP Robert Bourque as VP finances, and former Cirque du Soleil executive David Gilmour to manage sponsorship sales in the North American market.

JFL, a privately held company majority-owned by CEO Gilbert Rozon, is the organizer of the annual Just For Laughs international comedy festival, a major trade event for American, Canadian and European talent and broadcast executives.

* Ted Rogers, president and CEO and controlling shareholder of Rogers Communications, has extended his employee contract another three years, with plans to step down in January 2007.

The company has not disclosed a succession plan. Two of Rogers’ four children hold senior positions within the company. Son Edward Jr. is a company director and senior VP of planning, and daughter Melinda is vice-president of venture investment.

* Tony Berman has been appointed editor in chief for CBC news and current affairs, CBC Television and CBC Radio.

In his new position, he will serve as CBC’s chief journalist in interpreting journalistic policy across all English media platforms.

‘By having a single editor in chief for all of our platforms, we ensure continuity and consistency in the interpretation of our journalistic policy,’ says Harold Redekopp, executive VP, CBC Television.

For the past two years, Berman has been executive director and chief journalist of CBC news, current affairs and Newsworld.

* Karmen Lum, former manager of accounting in Alliance Atlantis’ television finance group, joins CineNova as its new manager of accounting.

Michael Turner joins the company as its new director of business and legal affairs. He had previously practiced law with Fraser, Milner, Casgrain.

* Robert Hardy, director of corporate development for the National Screen Institute – Canada, has moved on to start up a new Winnipeg-based production company, Studio W Inc. Partners in the new company, set up to develop TV series and features, are Brendon Sawatzky (Inertia) and James Voelpel.

* Alexander Crawley has been appointed executive director of the Canadian Independent Film Caucus. A doc filmmaker, Crawley most recently served as executive director of the Canadian Screen Training Centre in Ottawa. He had also served as president of ACTRA from 1991 to 1997 and as director of the Canadian Conference of the Arts for film and broadcasting for three consecutive terms.