NEWSMAKERS

FilmLA, Inc., a nonprofit organization contracted by the City of Los Angeles and other local entities to coordinate film permits, has hired Todd Lindgren in the newly created position of vice president of communications. He started his new job on Nov. 2, leaving his position of senior vice president and director of government affairs for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Lindgren originally joined the chamber in 2000 and worked with them for four years, returning for another three after serving in Mayor Hahn’s administration as area director for north Valley communities. He also served as director of entertainment industry affairs for Hahn. “I worked with the entertainment industry and the communities exactly like I am doing now (for FilmLA),” said Lindgren. “It’s a perfect fit.” With the Writers Guild strike dramatically reducing the number of permits being applied for there are 44 primetime television dramas and 21 sitcoms filmed in Los Angeles he may have a little extra time on his hands to undertake two key initiatives, creating a community relations plan and a strategic plan. “We have a tough challenge,” said Lindgren. “We have to promote filming but we also have to make sure that we minimize the impact to our communities.” FilmLA is not involved in the strike talks. “We represent all facets of the industry,” said Lindgren. They also represent the community, in a sense, and Lindgren said that is his mission to bring the community and the industry together, working in harmony so the long-term benefit of the industry will continue to flow to communities like the Valley. “The Valley is where my heart is,” said Lindgren who has lived in Sherman Oaks, West Hills and now resides in Woodland Hills. BANKING Mary K. Fischer has been named Chief Operating Officer of First Private Bank & Trust, company CEO Richard C. Taylor said, and Diane M. Auten was named Chief Financial Officer. Fischer has been with FPB & T; since 1997 and in the banking industry for over 30 years. Auten has been with FPB & T; since 2003 and in banking for 31 years. Both women were promoted from executive vice president positions and are members of the Senior Policy Group for the bank. FPB & T; is a member of the Boston Private Wealth Management Group. BIOTECH Kythera Biopharmaceuticals Inc. announced two appointments to its executive ranks. John Smither was named as chief financial officer. In that role he will be responsible for all financial and administrative aspects of the company including financing, business planning and budgeting, tax and accounting and treasury. He previously served as chief financial officer of Amgen Europe. Deepak Chadha was named as vice president, regulatory affairs. As such, he will oversee oversees regulatory submissions and projects relating to Kythera’s product pipeline. He previously was vice president, global regulatory affairs at Allergan Medical. H. Wayne Rosenberger has been named to the board of directors of Simulations Plus, a pharmaceutical software firm in Lancaster. Rosenberger has extensive experience in the banking industry and currently serves as senior regional vice president of American Security Bank in Lancaster. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Angela Stanislawski has been named as director of the lending division at the Valley Economic Development Center. In that role, Stanislawski oversees all of the organization’s lending activities, including VEDC’s Revolving Fund, the SBA Microloan Fund, the Pacoima Microloan Fund, the Women’s Business Loan Fund and all SBA Lending Activity. She previously served as RLF portfolio manager. Eugene Pasechnik has been named as Small Business Administration Manager. In that position Pasechnik is directly responsible for day-to-day management of VEDC’s SBA Microloan and 7(a) Programs. He previously held the position of loan officer. ENTERTAINMENT Melissa Wohl has been hired as senior vice president of international sales for Allumination FilmWorks. In that role, Wohl oversees all international sales and domestic television sales of the company’s library. Prior to joining Allumination, Wohl was vice president of sales and acquisitions at Harmony Gold. Rasmus van der Colff has been appointed as interim chief financial officer for video game publisher THQ Inc. Van der Colff has served as vice president and controller since May 2007. He replaces Edward Zinser who resigned as CFO. Jeff Robinov has been named as the president of the newly formed Warner Bros. Pictures Group. In that role, Robinov will oversee all motion picture production, marketing and distribution operations as well as those of Warner Independent Pictures. Robinov had previously been president of production for Warner Bros. Pictures. NBC Universal made two promotions. Doug Vaughan was named senior vice president, special programs and alternative development. In that role Vaughan oversees NBC’s specials and several reality series as well as evaluating programming pitches and ideas originating from the East Coast. He was previously vice president, special programs, news and entertainment. Vaughan will work from New York. Meredith Ahr has been named vice president, alternative programming, development and specials. In that position she is responsible for developing new alternative series and evaluating trends in the international marketplace. She previously was director, alternative programming and development. Anne Sweeney of The Walt Disney Co. has been named the most powerful woman in the entertainment industry in a ranking from The Hollywood Reporter. As co-chairman of media networks, Sweeney led the charge in implementing the company’s digital initiative, resulting in revenue growth of 7 percent over last year. Sweeney was No. 2 on last year’s list. GAMING Gary Sproule has been named interim CEO at Youbet.com Inc., the online wagering firm based in Woodland Hills. Sproule has been with Youbet since 2002 and served as chief financial officer until July when he became chief operating officer. He replaces former CEO and board Chairman Charles Champion who stepped down to pursue other opportunities. Michael D. Sands has been appointed to the board of directors of Youbet. He is currently managing partner of consulting firm Ascenda Partners; and served as COO of the Consumer Travel Americas division with Cendant Travel Distribution Services. HEALTH CARE Paul Lambdin has been appointed president of Health Net of the Northeast, a division of Woodland Hills-based Health Net. Lambdin joined Health Net in 2002 as chief sales officer and since 2006 has been responsible for managing all of Health Net’s commercial and Medicaid business in the Northeast. He replaces Steven H. Nelson who is taking a position at UnitedHealth Group. Prior to joining Health Net, Lambdin was senior vice president, Business Development and Distribution, for United Healthcare in Minnesota. MEDIA Beth Barrett of the Los Angeles Daily News was named a recipient of the Distinguished Journalist Award by the Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Barrett, an investigative reporter, broke the story on Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s affair with former Telemundo newscaster Mirthala Salinas. The award will be presented on April 30. PUBLIC SERVICE Several Valley residents were appointed to serve on city commissions by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Oz E. Scott of Sherman Oaks was appointed to the Cultural Heritage Commission. Scott is supervising producer for the series “The District.” Yolanda Anguiano of Mission Hills was appointed to the Relocation Appeals Board. Gilbert Bautista of North Hills was appointed to the Los Angeles Convention and Exhibition Center Authority. Bautista is the supervising deputy probation officer for L.A. County Probation’s Van Nuys Juvenile office. SALES Bart Boggess has been appointed as a sales representative at adult entertainment firm Pink Visual, based in Van Nuys. Boggess previously worked as general manager at Bay Area Distribution and as general manager/buyer for Galleri, an upscale adult DVD store in San Francisco. TECHNOLOGY Technicolor announced the appointment of three new executives. Chris Carey has been named as chief marketing officer and head of infrastructure management in the Burbank office of the Technicolor services division of Thomson. Carey also serves as chief technology officer. In those roles, Carey with develop a platform for the division’s technology strategy and its marketing and communications initiatives to address customer and market needs. Carey joined Technicolor in 2006. Bill Patrizio has been named as president of broadcast network services. In that role Patrizio oversees the worldwide content preparation, management and distribution services. Prior to joining Technicolor, he worked for Universal Studios and The Walt Disney Co. Patrizio will work out of Technicolor’s office in England. Sean Moran has been named president of the Out-of-Homes Media Networks business. Moran will be responsible for the retail, exhibition, and enterprise market sectors. He previously was chief strategy officer with Technicolor’s premier retail network business. Moran will work out of the company’s San Francisco office.