Inside Out

People-moving and acquisitions seem to be grabbing the headlines lately. Canada's Mega Bloks entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Rose Art, based in New Jersey, for $350 million. The transaction combines two companies focused on construction toys, arts and crafts, and other creative-activity products, and is expected to close during third quarter 2005...MTV Networks acquired NeoPets, Glendale, Calif., which MTV will operate under its Nickelodeon divisionan online entertainment network for kids. Neopets, which has more than 25 million members worldwide, features virtual pets that inhabit the mythical land called Neopia....and speaking of pets, Jakks Pacific acquired a line of pet toys and other products through a new subsidiary, Pet Pal Corp., ...New execs in the limelight include the new president of Manhattan Toy, Arete Passas, pictured here. A 25-year veteran of children's products, she has worked in management positions at Mattel, James River Corporaton, Scholastic and Binney & Smith, maker of Crayola brand crayons. She is now responsible for the guiding Manhattan Toy's growth in the world toy marketplace...Steve Perkins is the new director of marketing for Mythic Entertainment. He comes to the position directly from Electronic Arts, where he held the same position...Susan Spencer is taking over as head of national promotions for DreamWorks Animation Consumer Products. Spencer succeeds Wendy Ryding, who is relocating to the East Coast, but will remain with DreamWorks as a consultant for the remainder of the year...Tor Sirset is the new vice president of marketing for costume and dress-up manufacturer Disguise, New York. As the vice president of marketing, Sirset will be responsible for developing and marketing Disguise's full line of costumes, accessories and masks throughout the United States and in more than 60 countries. Prior to joining Disguise, he was vice president of marketing for LeapFrog, Emeryville, Calif. as well as worldwide director of marketing for the Kids Entertainment Division of Mattel, El Segundo, Calif.