Robert Read has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Worldwide HD Marketing for Universal Studios Home Entertainment (USHE) and Universal Pictures International Entertainment (UPIE).

The move was jointly announced today by Hilary Hoffman, Executive Vice President, Marketing, USHE and Melanie Nicholas, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Sales & Licensees, UPIE.

He had been VP, HD Strategic Marketing, Specialty Product & USHE Franchise Management.

Read will continue to be based in Los Angeles. He previously worked for Warner Bros, Mattel, Viacom Consumer Products and Two-One Productions.

“Robert’s aggressive leadership in the Blu-ray arena to date has helped Universal make significant inroads into the format,” said Ms. Hoffman. “During his six years with Universal, he has proven to be an extraordinarily effective marketer with great instincts and superior management skills and is the ideal executive to step into this critical role to further steer our Hi-Def marketing strategy domestically.”

Ms. Nicholas added: “After spending two-and-a-half years with us at UPIE in London, Robert has been a valued member of Universal’s Home Entertainment international marketing team and we are delighted with his new role. Robert’s wealth of international marketing experience and his knowledge of the global Hi-Def landscape will ensure that UPIE will continue to be at the leading edge of the format.”