John McMahon has beenpromoted to senior executive vice president, managing director for SonyPictures Television International's (SPTI) European operations, it wasannounced today (Jan 13). McMahon will be chiefly responsible for developingand overseeing a growing confluence between SPTI and other Sony'sinternational divisions like Sony Electronics and Sony Playstation. Prior tohis promotion, McMahon, a 12-year veteran at the company, was executive vicepresident and managing director of Europe of the division, where he ledSPTI's three lines of international business - licensing, localproduction and international networks - into a state of unprecedented growth.

Under his stewardship thestudio's licensing operation has maintained record-breaking sales levelsfor a number of years and seen a marked growth in international production inGermany, Italy, France, Spain and the UK.

'John has provided thedynamic leadership required to keep each of our business lines focused on itsindividual goals and objectives while delivering all to the same final, andwinning destination,' Michael Grindon, SPTI president, said in a preparedstatement.

McMahon joined the companyin 1990, initially serving as vice president of international legal affairs atSony Pictures Entertainment, before moving to senior vice president of salesplanning for the company's international television division. He becameexecutive vice president of SPTI's European operations in 1998 andmanaging director of Europe a year later.