Veteran entertainmentpublicist BeBe Lerner has been promoted to vice president at BeverlyHills-based PR company Bumble Ward & Associates (BWA).

Ward, the company presidentwho founded BWA in 1994, has also brought in James Lewis as a publicist andpublic relations and marketing executive Rochelle Winters to spearhead thecompany's corporate division.

'It is not anexaggeration to say that few publicists match BeBe's knowledge of theentertainment industry and the press that covers it and we are glad to formallyrecognise how invaluable her effort has been to our company,' Ward saidin a statement.

'Rochelle brings along range, strategic approach to public relations as well as artistic,technical and marketing expertise and James a thorough understanding of therole public relations plays in promoting independent film.'

Lerner joined BWA in 1999and has handled director clients such as Bryan Singer (X2), Christopher Nolan (Insomnia), Peyton Reed (Down With Love) and the actor Vincent D'Onofrio.

She began her career at ICMbefore moving into PR at Bragman Nyman Cafarelli in 1997, where she wasinstrumental in launching Artisan Entertainment and Lions Gate CorporateEntertainment.

Winters, who has worked as afreelancer for BWA, founded the PR firm Smoke & Mirrors in 1993.

Before that she served asdirector of PR and marketing for Harmony Holding's five commercial andmusic production divisions.

Lewis began his career atthe Sundance press office in 1996 before moving on to Fox Searchlight Picturesand mPRm Public Relations and working as a unit publicist.

BWA's account rosterhas included Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, the Farrelly Brothers andfilms such as Spellbound, Y Tu Mama Tambien and Tarantino's upcoming two-parter KillBill.