James Birch has been promoted to the position of senior vice president, business affairs & general counsel, for Warner Bros International Theatres (WBIT). Based in Warner's London office, he will report to Millard Ochs, president of WBIT.

Birch will continue to be responsible for all legal and development issues affecting the day-to-day operation and growth of the division.

He was previously vice president, business affairs & general counsel, a post he was promoted to in 1998 after joining the company in 1996 as director, European business & legal affairs. Before joing WBIT, Birch was a solicitor at the law firm Rio Tinto plc and previous to that at law firm Freshfields.