09/08/19: Cynopsis Jobs – Cynopsis MediaCynopsis Media

Jeff McElfresh has been named CEO of AT&T’s Communications unit, effective October 1. McElfresh, who has been with AT&T for almost 25 years, replaces John Donovan, who last week announced his plan to retire. John Stankey was appointed AT&T’s President and COO, and will continue to lead the WarnerMedia unit.

Ada Chiaghana has joined Higher Ground Productions, from President Obama and Michelle Obama, as Vice President Development and Production. Chiaghana was previously in HBO’s original programming group.

Sara Burns is moving from Investigation Discovery to Discovery Inc. sib HGTV, where she’s been elevated to Senior Vice President, Scheduling and Program Strategy. Liz Brach is joining HGTV as Senior Director, Programming; Brach had been VP of Production and Development for Natural History New Zealand.

Endemol Shine Nordics announced two senior management changes. Madelene Hansson will step up from Deputy Managing Director of Meter Television to Managing Director on October 1, replacing Björn Persson, who has decided to leave Endemol Shine. Christina Parker will be joining Rubicon as Managing Director on December 1, from branded entertainment company Splay One, where she held the position of Country Manager for Norway.

Entertainment Studios tapped Caleb Ward to serve as Director of Acquisitions for Freestyle Digital Media. Ward’s most recent position was working for The Orchard/1091 as a Film Acquisitions Coordinator.

Cinedigm promoted Tony Huidor to Senior Vice President of Products & Technology, as well as General Manager of Digital Networks. Huidor has served as Vice President of Digital Operations at Cinedigm for the past five years. 

Reach3 Insights named Melva Benoit as Head of Media and Entertainment. Most recently, Benoit was the Founder and President of the Marian Dupree Group.

Plimsoll Productions appointed Saul Goldberg to run its Los Angeles office. Previously, Goldberg served as Head of Unscripted TV at film finance company Covert Media.

Discovery’s new joint venture with Chip and Joanna Gaines is setting its senior leadership team under President Allison Page. Donna MacLetchie, co-founder of Jane Street Entertainment, has been named GM, Programming; Julie Morris, most recently VP for Brand Strategy for HGTV, Food Network and Travel Channel, has been named SVP, Brand Strategy and Operations; and John Marsicano jumps from the Gaineses’ team at Magnolia to become Head of PR.

Janice Min is out at Quibi. The exit of the former Us Weekly editor, who held a content executive role at the short-form video start-up, follows the departure last month of Head of Partnerships and Advertising, Tim Connolly. Quibi is slated to launch on April 6.

Viceland hired Morgan Hertzan as EVP and GM. Hertzan was formerly GM of Lincoln Square Studios. Guy Slattery moves from his role as President and GM of the net to global CMO.

Melinda Toporoff has been named Series Producer for PBS Kids animated series Cyberchase. Most recently, Toporoff served as President and executive producer for Topsy Media.

Alibi Music Library hired Julia Trainor as Music Supervisor. Trainor has supervised over 200 productions during her career.