ParamountPictures International has announced a number of key appointments for its newLondon-based international distribution arm, which will become operational inJanuary 2007.

All will reportdirectly to Andrew Cripps, who as previously announced will serve as presidentof Paramount's new international operations.

Of the four newdepartment heads announced, one is already at Paramount and three come fromUIP, which is Paramount and Universal's joint venture internationaldistribution company currently being restructured.

Roger Pollock hasbeen named executive VP international distribution and operations; he has beenwith UIP since 1987, most recently as senior VP of sales for Europe, the MiddleEast and Africa (EMEA).

Jon Anderson hasbeen named executive VP international marketing, moving from his current postas marketing director of UIP Australia.

Philip Solomons,a UIP veteran since 1991, will serve as executive VP business affairs andgeneral counsel.

In the financedepartment, 20-year Paramount veteran Michael O'Sullivan has been namedexecutive VP finance and administration.

Reporting toPollock in distribution will be Mark Viane, senior VP distribution EMEA; JorgePeregrino senior VP distribution Latin America; Mike Selwyn, regional supervisorAustralasia; and Peter Clarkson, director of operations. Paramount's Asiandistribution will continue to be run by UIP.

In the marketingdepartment, reporting to Anderson will be Katherine Willing, senior VPinternational publicity; Chas Evans, senior VP international creative affairsand Simon Combes, VP media. Combes joins from Dreamworks.

Reporting toO'Sullivan in finance and administration are Mark Gethings, VP film reportingand planning and Jaakko Niemela, director of film planning.

Dan Olliff willmove into the role of VP film operations, to oversee international printproduction and delivery.

"I am very pleased with the fantasticteam that we have been able to put together for Paramount PicturesInternational," said Cripps, who will continue to serve as UIP's presidentand COO until the end of the year. "Paramount, combined with the productfrom Dreamworks Animation, the Dreamworks live action slate and also the newlyrevitalized Paramount Classics, is an exciting studio to work for and reflectsthe quality of the talent that we have been able to attract."

ParamountInternational plans to announce more appointments in the near future.

In September2005, Paramount and Universal announced that they would scale back theirinternational distribution joint venture, UIP, in order to establish their ownseparate international operations in 15 territories starting in January 2007.The restructured UIP, under new managing director John Horgan, will continue todistribute in 20 territories.

Paramount willwholly own and operate in Australia, Brazil, France, Ireland, Mexico, NewZealand and the UK, while Universal will wholly own and operate in Austria,Belgium, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Spain, and Switzerland.