Michael Johnston, well-known for his expertise in the coupon redemption business, has joined Toronto’s Herbert A. Watts as vice-president.

Before joining Watts, Johnston worked for NCH Promotional Services and CMS Canada.

– Rogers Cablesystems has realigned its national marketing department.

Making up the senior management team are: Tom Loberto, controller, marketing; Paul Nielsen, vice-president, cable products; Jean Barford, vice-president, premium products, and Shanna Young, director, advertising and promotion.

Two other appointments have been made to Rogers’ newly created product groups.

Ralph Brezina becomes product manager, non-residential, cable products, and Joel Hertzog is the new product manager pay tv, premium products.

– Dick Ring has joined Harrison Young Pesonen & Newell of Toronto as research consultant.

Ring comes from 18 years at Telemedia, where, most recently, he was director of research and development for TV Guide.

Next week, Duncan McKie takes on the position of senior vice-president of Insight Canada Research, after 18 months as vice-president of Decima Research.

While at Decima, McKie focussed on the evaluation of new media, advanced technologies, telecommunications and convergence, and co-authored a 200-page paper that evaluated the information highway for the federal government.

Before Decima, he spent eight years with BBM Bureau of Measurement, leaving while vice-president research and development.

Insight Canada is the polling firm used by the federal Liberal party.