Christophe Mercier has been appointed to the newly createdposition of vice president of speciality films at Warner Bros PicturesInternational.

Based in London,Mercier will report to the respective heads of European marketing anddistribution based in London and to the head of the overall division inBurbank, California.

Mercier'sprimary function will be to identify and evaluate opportunities for specialityreleases from Warner Independent Pictures, local productions and acquisitionsand other titles slated for select release.

Day-to-dayresponsibilities will include developing a detailed business analysis of eachspeciality title and coordinating with the relevant territory offices to assessbox office potential.

Mercier willwork closely with the various marketing and distribution teams to develop andimplement detailed release strategies.

Previously,Mercier coordinated the acquisition and distribution strategies at IndieCircle, a partnership of five European distributors that acquired Osama.

Prior to Indie Circle, Mercier served as a businessanalyst at Universal Pictures International, rising to manager of theinternational distribution department based in London.

Mercier will be joined by Bethan Fallon who has been appointed Marketing Manager for the new division. Fallon's role will involve overseeing day-to-day marketing, working closely with the local European marketing managers. Fallon joins WBPI from Sony Pictures Television International where she served as Marketing Manager for Europe, developing marketing and promotion strategies for US and local productions made in territories as various as Russia, Spain and the UK.