Three join Participant

Former ICM chief financial officer Robert Murphy has joined the US's Participant Productions as chief financial officer and executive vice-president. Bonnie Abaunza and Liana Schwarz have joined as vice-presidents of social action, campaign development and operations.

Auffret to head AAM's new Paris office

Digital film services company Arts Alliance Media has opened a new office in Paris, headed by Gwendal Auffret. He had been CEO of Eclair Digital Cinema.

Camara heads HFPA

Jorge Camara has been voted in for his fifth term as president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (Hfpa) for the 2007-08 session. Screen International's US editor Mike Goodridge has been elected vice-president, while Serge Rakhlin and Meher Tatna have been elected executive secretary and treasurer respectively.

Brown promoted at SPHE

Matt Brown has been made executive vice president, international, at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Former Coca-Cola Company senior manager Simon McDowell has joined as senior vice-president and general manager, Europe.

Weinstein switches to New Line

Former MTV Networks executive Caleb Weinstein has joined New Line as senior vice-president of business development and digital strategy.

Focus promotes PR team

Focus Features has promoted three longtime members of the publicity team to executive positions. East Coast-based VJ Carbone, who most recently served as director of national publicity; West Coast-based Harlan Gulko, most recently director of national publicity; and Kyle Thorpe, most recently director of field publicity, have all been promoted to vice-president of publicity. Also, Omar Gonzales has joined as a senior publicist.

Anisi leaves Lightning for Media 8

Media 8 Entertainment has hired Tannaz Anisi as vice-president of international distribution and will jointly handle Media 8 sales alongside Kristen Figeroid. Anisi previously served as senior vice-president of international distribution at Lightning Entertainment.