REGIONAL PEOPLE

* Michael N. Balikian has been named a principal in the Encino law firm of Alpert, Barr & Gross. Balikian has practiced law in the San Fernando Valley for 15 years and is a member of the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the San Fernando Valley Bar Assn.

Chatsworth portable spa manufacturer Softub Inc. has named Ed McGarry president and CEO. Company founder Tom Thornbury becomes chairman of the board.

Before joining Softub, McGarry was president of Sundance Spas. Before that he was vice president of Watkins Manufacturing, manufacturers of Hot Springs Spas.

Softub manufactures lightweight spas for indoor and outdoor use.

* Walt Disney Co. Burbank announced a series of personnel changes last week.

Pam Coats was named senior vice president of creative development for Disney’s Feature Animation division.

Coats made her feature film producing debut with the 1998 release of “Mulan.” Coats has been at Disney since 1989. Disney Consumer Products appointed Judy Fearing to the newly created position of senior vice president, global marketing and studio development.

Fearing will develop marketing strategy for all of Disney Consumer Products’ businesses including Licensing, the Disney Store, Buena Vista Publishing, Walt Disney Art Classics, Disney Direct Marketing and Disney Interactive.

Fearing was formerly senior vice president of marketing at Disney’s ESPN.

* Phil Barlow was promoted to the newly created post of executive vice president of Disney Motion Pictures Group, where he will oversee new technologies for delivering motion pictures to the public, including use of the Internet.

Barlow served as president of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution for the past four years, after 10 years as senior vice president/general sales manager.

Succeeding Barlow at Buena Vista is Chuck Viane. A 13-year veteran of Buena Vista, Viane most recently held the job of senior vice president and general sales manager.

Buena Vista distributed “Pocahontas,” “Toy Story,” “The Rock,” and “Mulan,” among other Disney titles.

* Universal Pictures has promoted Edward Egan to executive vice president, Universal Pictures Marketing. Egan moved to Universal in 1994 from Sony Pictures Entertainment where he was senior vice president, marketing for TriStar Pictures.

Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios, headquartered in Universal City, a unit of the Seagrams Co., an entertainment and beverage company.

Another of the company’s divisions, Universal Studios Consumer Products Group, Europe has appointed Bruno Maglione managing director. Maglione came to Universal from Disneyland Paris, where he was a marketing executive.

Maglione replaces Keith Isaac, senior vice president, who has retired, the company said.

* Superior Industries International Inc., Van Nuys, has promoted Steven J. Borick to vice president, strategic planning. Borick has been a director with the company since 1981.

Superior supplies aluminum wheels and other components to auto makers including Ford, General Motors, BMW and Toyota.