Nigel Sharrocks, the head ofWarner Bros' UK distribution arm, is leaving the film business to head up media buying groupAegis Media.

Sharrocks, whose pre-Warnerbackground is in advertising, will be the new chief executive of the company inthe UK and Ireland, replacing Mark Craze, who left this month.

Meanwhile Josh Berger, executive vice president & managing director, Warner Bros. Entertainment UK, will continue to oversee the UK operations of Warner Bros. A Warner spokesperson said that Sharrocks' departure gives the company a chance to assess the structure of its busy UK operation.

Sharrocks was previouslymanaging director of Grey Advertising, which oversaw the Warner account, andplayed a key role in creating the agency's media buying business, Mediacom.

He joined Warner in 1999 asgeneral manager of its UK arm, overseeing the releases of the Harry Potterfranchise.