* Chris McGinley has been promoted to SVP of station operations for CanWest MediaWorks, overseeing all of its broadcast entities, including Global Television and CH. McGinley was previously VP of CanWest’s Western region TV assets.

* René Chénier is the new executive director of the animation and youth studios for the National Film Board, relieving the interim Michèle Bélanger. Chénier has headed Arico Film Communication for the last 10 years.

* Emma Fachini has been promoted to director, sales promotion at Teletoon. The channel has also hired Christine MacLaurin as manager of interactive sales.

* Entertainment lawyer Susan Abramovitch has joined the Gowlings law firm as a partner in the intellectual properties department. Abramovitch was a founding partner of Stohn Abramovitch LLP, a firm specializing in entertainment law.

* B.C. FX house Artifex Studios has added a number of new staffers, including producer Roula Lainas, a 10-year veteran of the industry. It has also hired 3D artist/matte painter Gordon Oscar, technical director Injoon Hwang, compositing supervisor Kevin Struckman and motion graphics artist Chris Abbas.

* Alida Cupillari has been hired as the interim office manager at the Ottawa-Gatineau Film and Television Development Office. Cupillari is a former TV series production manager and producer on programs including Bravo!’s Arts & Minds.

* Laura Hughes has joined CHUM as a publicist for Bravo! Hughes has served at a number of PR firms, most recently FLIP Publicity and Promotions, where she handled clients including Blue Man Group.

* Liette Michaud is leaving Cineflix as its VP, production administration. She started with the company as a production coordinator on its series Dogs With Jobs in 2000.

* On-air hockey analyst Nick Kypreos has signed a contract extension with Rogers Sportsnet, but the caster has not revealed the years it will cover. The former NHLer started with the channel when it launched in 1998.

* Lisa Oake, former anchor of CNBC Asia, has joined ROBTv’s on-air talent roster.