Willi Geike, the well-respected head of Warner Bros' theatrical operations in Germany has been promoted and will now also oversee the home video unit for Germany and Austria. His newly created position is vice president & managing director, Warner Bros Pictures Germany and Warner Home Video, Germany & Austria.

His expanded responsibilities include German distribution and marketing for Warner's feature and home video businesses in Germany and Austria and German language co-productions and acquisitions. He reports to Sue Kroll, president, international marketing, and Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, president, international distribution for Warner Bros Pictures as well as to Ron Sanders, senior vice president and co-managing director, Europe, for Warner Home Video.

He will also work closely with Simona Benzakein, vice president, European production, for Warner Bros Pictures in the production of local-language films. He will continue to be based in the Warner Bros offices in Hamburg.

Geike has been with Warner Bros in various capacities for 15 years, serving most recently as Vice President and Managing Director, Germany and Austria for Warner Bros Pictures. He's also served as Managing Director, Marketing Director and Marketing Manager for various Warner Bros. home video and theatrical distribution operations in Germany. Prior to his association with Warner

Bros, Geike held marketing positions at United Artists and UIP Germany.