Company Town : Steve Race Resigns; Guided Sony’s PlayStation Launch

Steve Race, Sony Computer Entertainment of America president who was hired last year to shepherd the company’s much-awaited PlayStation video game launch in the United States next month, resigned abruptly Monday, the company said.

Martin Homlish, senior vice president of Sony Electronics’ consumer products group, was named acting president.

* Bill Bentley has been named vice president-director and Yvonne Garrett has been named senior director of media relations for Reprise Records’ Media Relations Department.

* Capitol Records announced the appointments of Karyn Rachtman to vice president of soundtracks and artists and repertoire, Bruce Kirkland to executive vice president and Bruce Lundvall to general manager of Capitol Records East Coast.

* Sony Pictures Entertainment has promoted Jeff Wallace to vice president of corporate human resources and diversity.

* Diana Wilken has been named vice president of West Coast network distribution for Fox Broadcasting.

* Susan Grant has been promoted to president and W. Russell Barry has been named chairman of Turner Program Services.

* Molly Kronberg has been named director of sales for national accounts at MGM/UA Home Entertainment.

* Paul J. Newman has been named director of non-feature acquisitions for Columbia TriStar Home Video.

* Facility Merchandising Inc. has been purchased by its president, Milt Arenson.

* ACI has promoted three executives in its Los Angeles-based marketing department: Gregory Calvosa to marketing supervisor, Ruth Waldorf to manager of marketing and station relations and Michael Turner to director of worldwide marketing.

* New Line Television promoted Judith Verno to director of product development and merchandising.

* Caravan Pictures has renegotiated Jonathan Glickman’s contract, giving the production executive added responsibilities and credits.

* Dan Pasternack has been named vice president of network programs for Fred Silverman Co.

* At Hemdale Home Video’s sales division, Ray Schwartzman has been promoted to national sales manager and Todd Hansen to national accounts manager. Bob Wienstroer has been hired as southeast regional sales manager.

* Linda Carrasquillo has been named director of production for United Entertainment Group.

* Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has named Holly Stein vice president of licensing and marketing and Jim Banister vice president of production technology.

* Virgin Interactive has appointed Eric Lux vice president of product development.