Masako Ichino has been promoted to vice president of business affairs at Universal Pictures.

Ichino will continue to negotiate deals for books, screenplays and other source material as well as above-the-line talent agreements for writers, producers, directors and actors. She will also continue to report to Jimmy Horowitz, Universal's executive vice president of business affairs and legal affairs.

Ichino, whom Horowitz described as a "rising star" in the field, joined the studio as director of business affairs in 1998. Prior to that she worked as director of business and legal affairs at USA Broadcasting Inc and as manager of business and legal affairs at Savoy Pictures.