Alison Thompson, chief executive of UK-based international sales operation The Sales Co, is to join Pathe's London arm in the newly-created post of head of sales - Pathe International.

Thompson, who has headed the Sales Co for four years, will be responsible for selling all Pathe's English-language films. On arrival, she will have at least three new Pathe titles to sell immediately, including Terry Gilliam's The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, starring Johnny Depp.

Also on her sales roster will be The Hole, Nick Hamm's thriller starring Thora Birch, and The Abduction Club, a romantic adventure directed by Stefan Schwarz. French language films will continue to be sold overseas by Pathe International in Paris.

Pathe said the move rounds out its team after a string of recent appointments. Matthew Gannon, formerly of Fox Searchlight, was made head of development, while Susanna Wyatt, former head of production for HAL Miramax, became Pathe's head of physical production.

Earlier this year, Cameron McCracken, previously at British Screen Finance, was made deputy managing director of Pathe's lottery studio franchise Pathe Pictures.