Veteran entertainment lawyerand business affairs executive Andrew Kramer has been appointed executive vicepresident of business affairs and operations at the fledgling WarnerIndependent Pictures.

Kramer will be responsiblefor handling all business and legal matters related to the specialty unit'sslate, as well as the company's internal operations and relationships withother Warner Bros Entertainment divisions.

He will begin work on Sept 2and leaves his current post as executive vice president of Mike Medavoy andArnie Messer's Phoenix Pictures.

"I've known, worked with, andhad the highest level of respect for Andrew for years," Mark Gill,president of Warner Independent, said in a statement.

"He's exceedinglysmart, strong, and personable, but he also somehow manages to defy themaddening norm of Hollywood business affairs by working fast."

"Andrew has an impressivebreadth of knowledge not only about all aspects of business affairs, but alsoabout starting up and running the operational side of a lean independent filmcompany," Warner Bros president of production Jeff Robinov added.

Prior to Phoenix, Kramer waschief operating officer of The Canton Company and before that served asexecutive vice president of Franchise Pictures.