Ian Sutherland has beenpromoted to executive vice president, international theatrical distribution andmarketing, at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) just months before the studio is set tomerge into Sony Pictures Entertainment.

The announcement was madeyesterday by MGM Home Entertainment president David Bishop. Sutherland joinedMGM in 2000 as senior vice president, international marketing and distribution,overseeing the theatrical distribution and marketing of MGM/UA films inconjunction with 20th Century Fox International.

He will be responsible forMGM's final slate of films before the Sony deal goes through including BeCool, The Amityville Horror, Into The Blue and The Pink Panther.

Sutherland previously spent11 years with UIP in Australia and the UK. He left as senior vice president,international marketing.