Entertainment. (Newsmakers).

Michael T. Nicolaou has been named general manager at Blur Studios, a Venice-based visual effects, animation and design house. He will oversee daily operations and long-term planning. Nicolaou previously was regional director for Intergraph Corp.

Gunilla Molund has been named managing director of Gurin Co., a production company based in Studio City. Molund had previously served as head of international affairs and business development at Jarowskij Sverige AR in Stockholm.

Dina Chang has been named an executive producer at broadcast design and animation company Humunculus. Chang had been executive producer for Spank Music + Sound Design.

Culver City-based Sony Pictures Television International has appointed Andy Kaplan senior executive vice president, international networks. He will be responsible for distribution and advertising sales for more than 30 channels in Asia, Europe and Latin America, as well as managing ventures with partners such as HBO, Showtime and Cinemax. Kaplan, who replaces Jon Petrovich, most recently has been an entertainment and media consultant in Los Angeles. He is the former chairman and chief executive of Hollywood Stock Exchange.

The Screen Actors Guild has hired Tom LaGrua for the new position of national director of contract strategy where he will be involved with long-term strategic planning on bargaining positions for contract negotiations. Before being hired for the staff position, LaGrua was a SAG vice president and has appeared on "Caroline in the City," "NYPD Blue," "The Practice" and "ER."

Sandi Pandos is the new vice president for communications at Fine Living, the Los Angeles-based cable network owned by Scripps Howard. Before joining the network, Pandos had owned a public relations firm.

Ron Herman has been promoted to senior vice president and general manager for Universal City Walk operations, responsible for all leasing, marketing and operations. He had previously served as vice president for sales and marketing.