MGM Home Entertainment Group is to assume all Canadian self-distribution responsibilities for video and DVD, taking over from Warner Home Video, president and chief operating officer David Bishop announced yesterday.

The extension of operations will begin in April 2003 and will be headed up in Toronto by Martin Wragg, the former director of East Coast sales who has been promoted to vice president of sales for Canada.

Distribution will be handled through Toronto-based Cinram, freeing up Wragg's 14-person sales team to start selling directly to trade outlets on Jan 1. Wragg, who has served the company for seven years, relocates from New York for the posting and will report directly to Robert Wittenberg, executive vice president of worldwide sales.

"We look forward to building a strong foundation with the Canadian retail base and in providing them with the same outstanding service that we have worked diligently to deliver to our retailers in the US and the UK," Bishop said in a statement.