BBC Television has appointed Mark Harrison the new creative director for arts, effective in November. Harrison’s predecessor, Franny Moyle, was appointed head of arts commissioning in July.

On October 7, Discovery Networks U.S., announced the appointment of longtime CNN producer Bill Smee as vice president of production and development for its Discovery Civilization Channel digital cable network. Smee was at CNN for 15 years, where he worked most recently as the senior supervising producer for the program CNN Presents.

As a result of corporate restructuring, Hallmark Channel president and CEO Lana Corbi will step down and her position eliminated. Corbi will remain with Crown Media Holdings, the parent company, as a consultant throughout the transition period, which involves cutting its workforce by 130 positions or roughly 30 percent.

Independent producer Rina Fraticelli has been named executive producer of the National Film Board of Canada’s Pacific Production Centre, which is based in Vancouver. Fraticelli will begin her duties on December 1.

FremantleMedia announced the promotion of Alan Boyd to president, worldwide entertainment, a newly created position. Boyd is currently the CEO of FremantleMedia UK Productions and Thames Television, which is the production company responsible for such popular programs as Pop Idol (ITV) and travel show Wish You Were Here…? To fill the void, Peter Fincham will take over Boyd’s former responsibilities as CEO of FremantleMedia UK Productions and Thames as of January 2003.

Mario San Roman has been appointed chief operating officer of Mexico-based TV Azteca, one of the largest producers of Spanish-language programming in the world. San Roman is currently head of TV Azteca’s distribution channels, a job that he will continue in addition to his new responsibilities.

Frank Eijken has been appointed senior VP of sales and marketing for Netherlands-based SBS Broadcasting, effective January 1, 2003. Eijken has been with SBS since 2000 in the role of executive director, sales and marketing.

The Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) announced its roster of newly elected Board members. Five continents are now represented on the board, which now includes its first African representative (Martin Cuff of South Africa, who is a second alternate).

Flextech Television has hired London, U.K.-based Taylor Herring Communications to increase the profile of its channels: Bravo, LivingTV, Challenge TV and Trouble. Taylor Herring, a PR firm specializing in media and entertainment, previously worked on a campaign for LivingTV.