Universal Pictures International Video (UPIV) has appointed Phil Rudge to the post of vice president of Continental Europe.

Rudge, formerly managing director of Universal Pictures Video UK (Rental Division), will report to UPIV president Peter Smith. Based in London, he will manage all local sales and marketing operations across Spain, France, Germany, Benelux, Scandinavia and Italy.

Rudge was sales director at the UK's Virgin Vision and 20th Century Fox before joining PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, which was then subsumed into Universal Pictures.