• Pamela Brand has stepped down as executive director and CEO of the Directors Guild of Canada, leaving to ‘pursue new goals’ after almost 20 years with the organization. Lesley Lucas, national director of membership services, will fill in until a permanent replacement is found.

• Heritage Minister Bev Oda has named Timothy Casgrain as the new chairman of the CBC. The 58-year-old boardroom veteran and former accountant takes over from CBC president and CEO Robert Rabinovitch, who has filled in as acting chairman following last year’s departure of Guy Fournier.

• Sheena Macdonald has left Rhombus Media to be director of special projects at the Canadian Film Centre, where she will work to expand the center’s presence in the international marketplace.

• CBC has hired Mary Quinn away from Brightlight Pictures, and installed her as its executive in charge of development and production for TV arts and entertainment, a lengthy title that will see her scout talent and build the network’s presence in B.C. She will oversee Ceeb projects from all genres from development into production, reporting to Marcela Kadanka.

• Former TVOntario docmaker Rudy Buttingnol has stepped in as interim president and CEO of Knowledge Network. Buttignol takes over at the B.C. channel as it finalizes its break from the educational umbrella group Open Learning Agency, replacing Bill Harlan, who sat as interim head for roughly five years.

• Nelvana Studios has brought in producers Marion Edwards and Derek Reeves to represent and manage its international coproductions in Europe and Asia. Both will work on contract and report to Irene Weibel, VP international of Corus Kids.

• Barna-Alper Productions has hired Vanessa Steinmetz as its manager of production financing, a new position that will see her work on funding applications and interim financing.