ALLOT

Allot Communications has named Larry Schmidt vice president of channel sales, North America. He comes from Norstan, where he was executive VP, direct solutions.

ASCENT

Brenda Smith was named group managing director, Ascent Media Group United Kingdom. She was managing director at Granada Television.

BIAP SYSTEMS

Digital-cable and broadband application developer BIAP Systems has named Dan Levinson executive vice president, marketing, and Mark Pruneau VP, marketing. Levinson comes from Court TV, where he was executive VP, marketing; Pruneau comes from Charter Communications Inc. in Fort Worth, Texas, where he was VP, marketing and sales.

CASTELLS & ASOCIADOS

Hispanic ad agency Castells & Asociados has elevated Nadia Voukitcevitch to executive producer. She was senior producer.

COMCAST

Kavita Vazirani was elevated to vice president, marketing media services at Comcast Cable, responsible for managing national media planning and buying and supervising media and traffic operations for the MSO’s National Marketing Interconnect.

Also, Tony Hollinger was named vice president, general manager for the District of Columbia system. Formerly acting GM there, he also had been VP and GM in Charles County, Md.

DISCOVERY

Phil Fairclough was named senior vice president, production for Discovery Channel. He had been VP, production.

DISNEY CHANNEL

Disney Channel has namedMatthew Palmer senior vice president, marketing. He comes from Discovery Communications Inc., where he was VP, strategic marketing.

GOSPEL

Genia Edleman was named vice president, affiliate sales and marketing at Gospel Music Channel. She had been regional director, affiliate sales and marketing with Discovery Networks U.S.

IBM

IBM Corp. has added Steve Mannel to its Communications Sector/Media & Entertainment Industry team, responsible for cable and broadband solutions. He had been a business development executive.

LATV

Bilingual network LATV has named Ximena Acosta marketing and promotions manager. She comes from Comcast Corp., where she supervised Hispanic marketing initiatives.

LIFETIME

Lifetime Entertainment Services elevated Bruce Tyroler to vice president of research. He was director.

MPRM

mPRm Public Relations reported several staff moves: Jennifer Rettig joined the firm as vice president, television practice; Jennifer Vogelmann and Chris Reichert were elevated to director; and Lindsay Colker and Taffy Miller have joined the television practice as account executives.

MSGN

MSG Networks has elevated Debby Schneider to vice president, technical operations, responsible for Madison Square Garden Network and Fox Sports New York. She had been director, network operations.

NASH

Roz Taylor-Jordanwas named vice president, casting at Nash Entertainment. She had been involved in the casting of such reality shows as Survivor, Average Joe: Hawaii and Fear Factor and was a producer for the syndicated Dr. Phil.

NBC

NBC has elevated Craig Plestis to senior vice president, alternative programs and development. He was VP, alternative programs, NBC Entertainment.

SONY PICTURES

Sony Pictures Television International has upped Mindy Brown to executive director, global advertising sales, international networks. She comes from G4, where she was director of advertising sales.

TV ONE

TV One named John W. Jones as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. He comes from Radio One Inc., where he was associate general counsel.