In a week of reorganisation at the studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has hired two new senior production executives, Elizabeth Cantillon and Eric Paquette, and announced the exit of Robert E Relyea from his position as president, production, for MGM Pictures and United Artists Pictures.

In addition, MGM Distribution Co has seen two senior executives depart - Randi Braun and Amanda Lundberg - the arrival of Jamie Geller Hawtof as senior vice president, publicity, and the promotion of Seth Gaven to executive vice president, creative advertising.

Relyea has been in his position for eight years and will leave as of Jan 1, 2002, to pursue opportunities in independent production. Prior to joining MGM, he was a senior vp of production management at Paramount Pictures and before that held executive positions at Lorimar Productions and Melvin Simon Productions and as a partner in Steve McQueen's Solar Productions.

Cantillon has been named senior vice president of production and Paquette vice president of production. They report to Alex Gartner, president, production of MGM Pictures, and will be responsible for finding and developing feature film properties and overseeing them through production to release.

Cantillon recently produced The Banger Sisters for Fox Searchlight and Galaxy Quest for DreamWorks, while president of Mark Johnson Productions. She was previously executive vice president of Turner Feature Films and Turner Feature Animation, was an independent producer of the movie Sunset Park and served as president of Jersey Films.

Paquette was previously at Phoenix Pictures where he worked on films including The Sixth Day, Holes and Official Assassins.

Meanwhile at MGM Distribution Co, Gellner Hawtof rejoins MGM after 11 years away from the studio. During that period, she was a vice president, then senior vice president of publicity at Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group (CTMPG).

Gaven has been at MGM Distribution Co since 1999 as senior vice president, creative advertising.

Danny Rosett has also been promoted to executive vice president, marketing and distribution, with added oversight of MGM's international theatrical distribution operations as well as all deal-making and business operations for United Artists.

All three executives report to Bob Levin, president of worldwide theatrical marketing and distribution, with whom Geller Hawtof worked at CTMPG.

Braun leaves her position as senior vice president, creative advertising, and Lundberg as senior vice president, worldwide publicity.