CLIENTS:

The Canadian Hockey League has hired John Hudson as its first vice-president of marketing and corporate development. Hudson gained valuable experience in sports marketing and rights negotiations as the former head of television sports for CBC’s English network. He was CBC’s executive producer at the 1976 summer Olympics in Montreal before joining Labatt Breweries in 1979 as director of national promotions and media properties. Hudson was also co-founder of the Coaching Association of Canada.

NBA Canada has made a few changes. Alison George has been promoted to director, communications and events, Jonathan Ram has been promoted to director, consumer products and basketball development, and Ian Charlton has been promoted to manager, consumer products, where he will oversee licensing sales and marketing.

AGENCIES:

Norman Rigg has been appointed regional director of DDB Worldwide Asia. Rigg was formerly chairman and CEO of Toronto-based DDB Group Canada. He will relocate to Singapore when he begins his new assignment in the new year. Rigg will head up DDB’s work for clients such as Clorox, Compaq, Johnson and Johnson, McDonald’s and Volkswagen in Asia. As a result of the move, Frank Palmer has been promoted to Rigg’s former position but will also continue as president and CEO of Palmer Jarvis DDB.

Norman Melamed and Adrian Taylor have been named senior vice-presidents and co-directors of client service at Young & Rubicam. Melamed was formerly senior VP, group client services director and has been with the agency since 1995, managing growth on the agency’s Ford and Whitehall-Robins accounts. Adrian Taylor joins Y&R from Taylor Worrell & Myers, where he was president and CEO. Taylor brings to Y&R experience in the packaged goods, retail, travel, automotive, technology, beverage, and financial services categories.

Jeff Durocher and Greg Brown have joined Toronto-based Manifest Communications as art director and copywriter, respectively. Both come from Toronto agency Brandworks International.

MEDIA:

Sun Media Corporation has shuffled the management deck following the appointment of John Patton as vice-president, new media. Les Pyette replaces Patton as publisher and CEO of the London Free Press. He, in turn, has been replaced by Guy Huntingford as publisher and CEO of The Calgary Sun. The company, best known for its tabloid Sun newspapers, is owned by Quebecor.

Eller Media Company Canada has named Richard Bridgman vice-president of sales. Bridgman comes to the Toronto-based outdoor company from Baton Broadcasting/CTV, where he was vice-president program planning. His main projects will be Dundas Square, the upcoming Atrium Media Tower, and The Toronto Eaton Centre Media Tower, planned for next year.

Sharon Capotoso is the new vice-president, merchandising and licensing at Toronto-based Alliance Atlantis Communications. Caposto is in charge of licensing and product placement for the company’s television and theatrical properties. Prior to joining Alliance Atlantis in July as director of merchandising and licensing, she worked with an independent licensing agent.