Advertising

Anne Truscott has been named director of strategic planning for Colby Effler & Partners in Santa Monica. She will work with clients and develop new business projects. Truscott was previously planning director at TBWA Chiat/Day.

Architecture

Robert Lyons was promoted to associate at Rossetti Associates Architects in Santa Monica. He will focus on project management of sports and public assembly facilities. Lyons was previously director of operations.

Banking & Finance

Walter Burrows has been appointed vice president of the real estate and construction loan department at Alliance Bank in Culver City. He will focus on construction and real estate lending. Burrows previously worked for several community banks.

Hugh Connors was promoted to first vice president and group manager for the community business banking group of Comerica Bank-California in Long Beach. He will be responsible for overseeing loans to small- and medium-sized businesses in the Southern California area. Connors was previously vice president and alternate credit administration officer.

Michael Lim has joined Prudential Securities in downtown L.A. as first vice president of investments. He specializes in financial planning for the Korean community in Los Angeles. Lim was previously an assistant vice president of investments with Merrill Lynch.

Renette Shigenaga has been promoted to senior vice president of the information and delivery systems division of Sanwa Bank in Los Angeles. She was previously deputy division head.

Entertainment

Dave Adams has been promoted to supervising visual effects animator for Foundation Imaging in Valencia. Adams was an animator on “Star Trek: Voyager” and “Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog.”

Jules Haimovitz is joining Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as president of MGM Networks Inc. He will focus on establishing cable, satellite and other channels to distribute the film library. Haimovitz was formerly president and chief operating officer of King World Productions Inc.

Kenton Low has been appointed senior vice president of corporate marketing for Universal Studios in Universal City. He will focus on developing and executing strategic marketing programs as well as overseeing online operations. Low was most recently vice president of synergy at Buena Vista Internet Group.

David Marko was named vice president of television for RKO Pictures in Los Angeles. He will develop projects as well as help acquire network television and cable properties. Most recently, Marko was an executive for miniseries and movies at NBC Studios.

Antony Root has been named senior vice president of Granada Entertainment U.S.A. in Los Angeles. He will assume responsibility of television movies and miniseries. Root will continue to serve as head of the international drama unit of Granada Productions.

Bedi Ajay Singh was appointed chief financial officer of Sony Pictures Entertainment in Culver City. He will also have the title of executive vice president of Sony Pictures Entertainment with responsibility for financial activities. Singh was senior vice president of strategic planning and deputy chief financial officer for Fox Filmed Entertainment.

Four executives have been named to new posts at Walt Disney Co. in Burbank. Etienne de Villiers has been appointed president and managing director of Walt Disney International Europe. He has been president of Walt Disney Television International since 1994. Michael Johnson was named president and managing director of Walt Disney International Asia. He was most recently president of Disney’s Buena Vista Home Entertainment. Diego Lerner was named president and managing director of Walt Disney International Latin America. He was previously executive vice president for Buena Vista International and Buena Vista Home International and Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Latin America. Paul Saleh was appointed senior vice president and chief financial officer of Walt Disney International. He has been executive vice president and treasurer of Walt Disney Co. since 1997.

Law

Cecilia Dyba has joined Fulbright & Jaworski in Los Angeles as senior counsel focusing on public finance. She was previously with Brown & Wood.

Joseph Herman has been named partner at Thelen Reid & Priest in Los Angeles. He represents hotel, gaming and financial service companies in Nevada and on the East Coast. Herman was previously with Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.

Ray La Soya has been promoted to partner at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson in Los Angeles. His corporate practice concentrates on mergers, acquisitions and securities. La Soya has been an associate since 1995. Also, William Molinski will become special counsel. He practices general commercial litigation with an emphasis on trademarks and trade secrets. Molinski has been an associate since 1993.

Paul Young has been named chief executive of Resolve It! Mediation Services in Marina del Rey. He will act as a consultant in securities arbitration and mediation cases for law firms and securities brokerages. Young will continue as chief executive of Securities Arbitration Group, parent company of Resolve It!

Non-Profits

Linda Baker was named vice president of personal giving for the Southern California chapter of the Arthritis Foundation in Los Angeles. She will focus on creating major gift committees in all nine foundation branches. Most recently she served as regional director of major gifts and annual giving for the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation.

Pamela Wick has been appointed director of development for Phoenix Houses of California in Los Angeles. She will be responsible for private fund raising to support in-house programs. Wick was previously vice president of corporate affairs with Rogers & Cowan.

Real Estate

Christina Bellinghausen has joined Staubach Co. in Westwood as a senior associate focusing on research, analysis and lease negotiations. Bellinghausen most recently provided brokerage and consulting services for Cushman Realty in Westwood.

Robert Gene Caudill has joined Douglas Wilson Cos. as regional director of leasing services for subsidiary Wilson-Mile High Properties in Los Angeles. He will develop an asset services group to provide leasing and acquisition services. Caudill was previously senior vice president and director of leasing for Jones Lang Wootton.

Irwin Rosenstein has joined ARCS Commercial Mortgage Co. in Calabasas as legal counsel. He will handle loan closings and serve as an advisor on other legal and investor issues. Levine was formerly with Fannie Mae.

Retail

David Harris has been appointed assistant general manager of the Beverly Center. He will assist with day-to-day operations and the maintenance of stores and services. Harris previously served as operations manager for Ampco System Parking.