The Ontario Media Development Corporation’s board of directors has appointed managing, marketing and communications veteran Michel Frappier to replace Adam Ostry as the ageny’s new CEO, effective July 2.

Frappier has extensive international experience managing, restructuring and implementing new business strategies from his posts as president and CEO of Future Source Communications, president of Maxxcom Communciations and Foster-McCann Erickson Canada, and senior VP, corporate development North America for Thomson Newspapers.

Ostry left the OMDC May 27, after deciding not to renew his three-year term.

* VisionTV’s president and CEO Bill Roberts has been appointed to chair a new committee established by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters to address trade issues.

The eight-member CAB Trade Advisory Committee will make the association aware of its members’ views with regard to ongoing WTO negotiations, as well as their concerns on such matters as NAFTA and the Free Trade Area of the Americas. The committee will also help CAB develop a global trade strategy.

Other members of the committee include: Glenn O’Farrell, Erica Redler, Sophie Imond, Elmer Hildebrand, Bryan Ellis, Kathleen McNair and Peter Miller.

* Toronto’s The Development House has added Ted East, Christopher Heard, Rachel Nelson, Elizabeth Trojian and Drew Carnwarth to its existing lineup of story and producing resources for the film and television industries.

* National French-language broadcaster Reseau TVA has named Sophie Thibault news anchor for its weeknight network newscast. Thibault is the first women in Quebec to anchor a primary newscast.

* Astrid Braunschmidt, just 21, has been named the morning news host of New Day, the weekday breakfast show at The New VI in Victoria. Formerly a New VI videographer, Braunschmidt started volunteering for community cable at age 13.