Industry veteran DanielBattsek has been promoted to executive vice president and managing director forBuena Vista International UK Ltd, Distribution/Production.

Battsek will continue tolead BVI's theatrical distribution and marketing operations in the UK as wellas head up BVI UK Comedy Label, which was set up in 1999 and has producedseveral titles including Calendar Girls, which has grossed $40m at the international box office to date.

During his tenure as seniorvice president for Buena Vista International UK the division has grown instature and this year recorded its biggest ever box office of more than $200m.

"I am very excited by thenew voice of British cinema that Daniel brings to The Walt Disney Company,"Dick Cook, Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook said in a statement.

Battsek has worked in theentertainment industry for more than 25 years and first joined BVI in 1992 fromPalace Pictures Film Distribution Company, where he held the position ofmanaging director.