Julian Senior, the well-known head of European Regional Advertising and Publicity at Warner Bros Pictures, is to leave the company at the end of the year after 30 years at the company.

"We will certainly miss him and his contribution to our company and our films," said Richard Fox, executive vice president, international, at Warner Bros, "but after so many successful years at the heart of the studio's European marketing and publicity operations, we understand and support his desire to direct his energies and talents towards other ventures and to spend more time with his family."

Senior worked for MGM for eight years before joining Warner in 1970 as an advertising and publicity consultant in the European regional office. Soon after, he was appointed vice president, European advertising and publicity, and in 1993 was promoted to his current position of senior vice president, European Regional Advertising and Publicity.

Senior developed numerous personal relationships with stars and film-makers, notably with Stanley Kubrick and Clint Eastwood. Said Kubrick's producer Jan Harlan: "What connected Julian Senior and Stanley Kubrick over almost thirty years was the ability of both men to distinguish between what is serious and what is not, to care endlessly about the serious and to make fun of what was pretentious."

Clint Eastwood added: "Over many years I've come to rely on Julian's advice and commitment, to respect his professionalism and to enjoy (most of) his jokes. I shall miss him."

"The time has now come to hand over the baton," said Senior.