Phyllis Yaffe has moved up to the top spot at Alliance Atlantis Communications, taking over the CEO job from cofounder Michael MacMillan, who has sidestepped from the company’s day-to-day operations to focus on long-term planning.

‘Alliance Atlantis has never been stronger, and I believe that the new management structure reflects the next phase in the evolution of the company,’ says MacMillan, now AAC’s executive chairman, in a statement. ‘Phyllis already has responsibility for the operating businesses of the company and I believe it is appropriate that she have the full authority and the office of chief executive officer.’

The move reflects AAC’s increasing slant towards its broadcast outlets. Before her recent COO spot, Yaffe was president of AAC’s broadcast wing and, before that, of its History Television and Showcase channels. AAC stepped away from its once-vibrant production efforts in late 2003 to focus on its 13 specialty channels and, to a lesser extent, its movie distribution wing. The company also owns one-half of the hugely successful CSI drama series franchise.

The move has also sparked rumors that MacMillan – who controls 67% of the company’s voting stock – is looking to sell. Yaffe will only say that the company is well positioned for ‘the next phase of its growth’ and that anything is possible, be it a sale or more acquisitions.

‘There may be other opportunities, of course. We’d never say that we wouldn’t look at things to acquire in Canada, things to participate in in Canada. We’d be open to that or in other places as well,’ she says. ‘We’d be foolish to say we’d rule anything out.’

MacMillan also recently said that AAC is looking to sell off its half ownership in Motion Picture Distribution LP. The outfit has performed well but is not a core business to broadcast-heavy AAC.

But the company is not in a hurry, says Yaffe. ‘We’re not impatient. We’re not in a hurry to do that. [MPD] is very successful and has great opportunities over the short term… But at the end of the day you have to ask yourself, where can that money be spent more usefully? And in our view, growing our broadcast business and continuing to maximize CSI are the two things we have to focus on.’

AAC’s distribution wing faces new competition with the recent arrival of Maple Pictures, which spun off from Lions Gate, and will begin to renegotiate its output deals with U.S. studios Miramax and New Line in 2006. Yaffe says this is not affecting AAC’s departure from the distribution ring.

‘There’s always competition, that has nothing to do with it. And we’re confident about our renewals.’

-www.allianceatlantis.com