Filmax International director Vicente Canales has left his post after 13 years at the Spanish studio and will be replaced by Ivan Diaz, head of international sales.

This move comes as part of a restructuring of the international division, which sees Eva Gutierrez and Irene Airoldi promoted to sales executives, and Laura Fernandez becoming head of international marketing. Cristina Carro and Kate Moore will continue working in distribution services and festivals, respectively.

“After more than 13 years working at Filmax International and having been here since its creation, I have decided that it’s time for me to start a new chapter in my career and so I will be leaving my position as head of Filmax International to start a new and exciting personal project, but will remain within the film business,” Canales told ScreenDaily. “I leave behind a great team of professionals who I have no doubt will continue to excel in the international market. I will miss working with them.

“My time here has been full of intense moments and plenty of activity and I have felt a lot of satisfaction at the achievements that have been made over these years, that before were unimaginable for a Spanish company.”

Filmax has been involved in some quality English and Spanish language projects during his time at the studio, including Darkness, The Machinist, El Cid, Transsiberian and the hugely successful Rec films. There are also several hotly anticipated titles on their slate, including Jaume Balaguero’s Sleep Tight, two new Rec films, horror Exorcismus and Eduardo Chapero-Jackson’s debut feature Verbo.

Diaz said of his new role: “This is a new challenge for me, but I take it on with confidence, knowing that I have a great team behind me who have been working together for many years. We have good products and good clients. Our objective is to carry on working as well as we have been up to now.”

Carlos Fernandez, CEO, added: “In Filmax we are fully supportive of this change. Ivan Diaz has an impeccable history with Filmax and it is always a pleasure for us to see people like him coming up through the ranks, We know that human talent is our greatest resource and we take good care of it at all levels: from top directors to screenwriters, executive producers, directors of photography, marketing and sales executives… Filmax is a great human team.”