Universal and MGM separately announced a number of keyappointments today as part of a strategic restructuring of their publicitydepartments.

At Universal,Jeffrey Sakson, Stephanie Kluft, Michael Moses and Greg Sucherman were namedsenior publicity executives and will report directly to Universal PicturesMarketing co-president Eddie Egan.

Sakson, whojoined the studio's New York office as a staff assistant in 1984, has beennamed senior vice president of publicity at Universal Pictures Group. He willbe responsible for strategic co-ordination of theatrical campaigns with each ofthe studio's publicity groups, including the international, home video andconsumer products divisions. He will also work on awards campaigns and specialprojects and continue to oversee administration of the publicity department onboth coasts.

Kluft and Moseshave both been promoted to senior vice president of publicity and assume theroles of chief publicity strategists for a select portfolio of theatricalreleases that includes The Hulk, Red Dragon and Bruce Almighty. Kluft joined the studio as director of publicity in 1997 whileMoses joined in April 2000 as vice president of publicity. Sucherman becomessenior vice president of field publicity and promotion and will continue tooversee regional publicity throughout the US and Canada.

Over at MGM EricKops has been named senior vice president of publicity, with responsibility forall MGM and United Artists theatrical releases. He first joined the studio in1994 as Western regional field manager and returned four years later after astint at Columbia/TriStar, where he performed the same role. Kops replacesJamie Geller, who is leaving the company. In a related move, Florante Sabadoleaves the company and his post as vice president of national field operations.