Andrew Karpen has joinedFocus Features as chief operating officer. Reporting to co-presidents DavidLinde and James Schamus, Karpen will be responsible for the company's worldwidefinance, daily operations and strategic planning.

Based in Manhattan, Karpenwill join the company's executive committee, which he will co-chair with Focusexecutive vice president, business affairs, Avy Eschenasy. In addition, he willwork closely with executives from Focus parent company Universal Pictures.

Karpen joins Focus fromOxygen Media where he had been senior vice president, finance and planning,since March 2000. At Oxygen, he managed the company's business plan and oversawrevenue objectives and forecasts. Immediately prior to Oxygen, he worked as CFOat Cary Woods' short-lived Independent Pictures and before that was CFO at SunbowEntertainment.

He began his career atMiramax Films where he spent four years, eventually as senior vice president,finance & operations.

"Andrew is a talentedexecutive with an impressive track record of building, operating, and growingindependent-minded media companies," said Linde and Schamus in a statement."His financial acumen, coupled with his enthusiastic appreciation of thecreative process, will be invaluable as we continue to expand the company."

"I am thrilled to join David Linde and James Schamus at suchan exciting time for Focus," said Karpen, "with the success of films like SwimmingPool and Lost in Translation and an increased slate of original productions. Intending to our worldwide operations, I am looking to maximize our greatestresources here - the roster of talented filmmakers and executives."