* Cinar Corp. has appointed Richard Genest senior vice-president and chief financial officer. Genest has over 20 years experience in finance with large and publicly traded corporations, including Alcan, Primary Metal Group and Desjardins-Laurentian Financial Corp.

* The City of Montreal has announced the nomination of Daniel Bissonnette as film commissioner and CEO of the Montreal Film and Television Commission (Bureau du Cinema et de la Television de Montreal). For the past three years, he was director-general of the animation and special F/X association Quebec AnimFX. Bissonnette replaces Andre Lafond.

* Nancy Chapelle has been appointed managing director of TVOntario’s English-language network. Previously, Chapelle was president of Toronto’s Catalyst Entertainment (now CCI Entertainment) and group head of production, North America for U.K.-based Gullane Entertainment.

* Radio-Canada has named Suzanne Laverdiere director-general, institutional affairs and strategic planning. Laverdiere was SRC’s interim director-general of programming since August 2002. She will continue to be involved in the promotion and support of Canadian cinema and film festivals.

* Denis Carmel has been promoted to director general, communications at the CRTC. Carmel has worked with the commission for four years as manager, media and parliamentary relations.

* Patricia Douey has been named acting VP of development for the Banff Television Foundation. Doucey has held senior positions at U.K.-based Flextech Television and Wire TV and Toronto-based Rogers Cable.

* Toronto’s Portfolio Entertainment has appointed Karen Horton as creative director and Stephen R. Kelley as head of sales and acquisition.

* Sandra Cardoso has been appointed marketing manager for CHUM Specialty Television.