Eddie Cunningham has been appointed president of UniversalPictures International Entertainment, effective Jan 1, 2007.

Cunningham will continue to be based in London and willreport to Universal Pictures' Burbank-based vice chairman Rick Finkelstein andco-chairman David Linde. He succeeds Peter Smith, who was recently appointedpresident of NBC Universal International.

UPIE has directly-owned operations in 23 territories andlicenses product to over 30 additional countries.

Cunningham most recently served as chairman of UniversalPictures UK, as well as regional managing director, with line responsibilityfor managing operations in the UK, Ireland, the Nordic countries, and Australiaand New Zealand.

He joined Universal Pictures UK as chairman in 1999. Hepreviously served from 1994 to 1999 as managing director of PolyGram Video, andheld a number of senior retail and distribution management posts.

"We are very pleased to acknowledge Eddie's enormouscontributions to Universal's international success with this newposition", Finkelstein said.

"He has played a key role in developing the homeentertainment markets in the UK and other important territories, and hisrelationships and experience will benefit us tremendously as we continue todevelop our home entertainment business globally."

Following on from Cunningham's appointment, Johnny Fewingswill serve as interim managing director of Universal Pictures UK.