People

Jonathan Axelrod has been named chief operating officer of AECG, a Los Angeles-based music production firm serving TV and film. He had been an independent TV and film producer.

Toronto-based programming sales and distribution firm Breakthrough Entertainment has added Kate Blank as sales executive for Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe and Africa. She comes from Sullivan Entertainment, where she handled international sales.

Howard Burkat has rejoined public-relations firm Burkat & Co. as a partner. He had been marketing director at Odyssey Networks.

Comcast Greater Chicago has elevated LeAnn Talbot to senior vice president. She had been VP, operations in the Greater Chicago Region.

Advertising agency DeLeon Group has added Stephanie Turzanski as account coordinator on its Comcast business. She is a recent graduate of La Salle University.

Caroline Beaton has been named senior vice president, international program sales at MTV Networks International, based in London. She had consulted the company.

Also, Roger James has been tapped as senior vice president, general counsel MTV Networks International and MTV Networks UK & Ireland, based in London. He was VP, business and legal affairs of MTVN UK & Ireland.

Cory Shields was named executive vice president, global policy strategies and alliances at NBC Universal, a newly created post. He had been executive VP, communications.

Diane Petzke has joined NYC Media Group in New York as director of production. She has worked for CNBC, NBC News and ABC News.

Keith Quinn was named senior vice president, creative development and production at Paramount Digital Entertainment. He comes from Agility Studios, where he was chief creative officer.

Rainbow Media Holdings has tapped Thomas Ziangas as senior vice president, research. He comes from Nielsen Media Research, where he was senior VP, Nielsen Expanded Media Services.

The Texas Cable Association has named Comcast vice president, government and public relations Ray Purser as chairman for 2009-10.

Also, the trade group selected John Owen, Time Warner Cable Texas Region president of commercial services, as its vice chairman.

Additional TCA executive committee members include Kathy Brabson of Time Warner Cable, secretary; Craig D’Agostini, Comcast, treasurer; Skip Ogle, Suddenlink Communications, and Kevin Allen, Charter Communications, directors; and Rob Moel, Time Warner Cable, immediate past chairman.

World Wrestling Entertainment has named Mike Pavone executive vice president of WWE Studios. A veteran TV writer, producer and director, he had been a strategic consultant to Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.