The name being mentioned most often in Ottawa these days in terms of who will be the new chair of the CRTC is lawyer Charles Dalfen. Currently a partner with law firm Torys and chair of the firm's communications group, Dalfen has managed regulatory and licensing matters for clients involved in the radio, television, cable TV, satellite, cellular, PCS, SMR, DSL, LMCS, paging and other wireless businesses throughout the world. Dalfen was also vice-chair of the Commission, in charge of the telecom sector, from 1976 to 1980. In his law practice, Dalfen has acted for Bell Canada, Telesat, BC Tel, Telus, Manitoba Tel, Westinghouse/CBS, the CBC, CanWest Global, and MaxLink Communications. - Astral Television president Lisa de Wilde announced she was leaving the company as of September 14. She released no other details of her future plans.
- The top job at Cogeco Cable's, Quebec division, in Trois Rivieres, that being vice-president and general manager, has gone to Jules Grenier. Grenier has a retail background, having worked with Provigo and Toys 'R' Us, among others. Former v-p and g.m. Jacques Begin, who has been with Cogeco for 27 years, has moved to the company's Montreal office as v-p special projects.
- Former Cogeco Cable executive and former president of Excite@Home Canada Michael Foley has joined the board of broadband subscriber and OSS applications company Alopa Networks, Santa Clara, Calif. Foley was president of Excite@Home Canada until this year. He had been on the job for about a year and had also served as vice-president, affiliate operations of Excite@Home.
- Former affiliate representative at Alliance Atlantis Dina Graziano jumped over to Bell ExpressVu in July as its newest manager, network programming. - Playboy TV made a number of moves during the summer which saw Shirley Rohn-Saito become v-p, satellite and special markets; Ruby Tan is account manager, Canada; Camila Ipinza is senior account manager, DBS/national accounts; and Claude Howard is v-p, marketing.
- Veteran broadcaster and former Canada AM co-host Valerie Pringle has moved over to cable, named as co-host of Discovery Canada's top show @discovery.ca during September and October. Host Jay Ingram will remain, sharing duties with Pringle.
- Replacing former Sportsnet program director Laura Mellanby, who is now with Fox and ESPN's Asian sports network will be Sportsnet legal counsel David Akande.
- Equipment supplier TVC Canada recently promoted Jeff Gruban to national sales manager. Gruban has over 10 years of sales experience in the cable television industry, including five with TVC Canada. He is now responsible for overseeing and managing TVC Canada's major national accounts, customer relations and strategic planning.