Ryan Werner is leaving Palm Pictures to join Wellspring as head oftheatrical distribution.
Werner will be responsible for all aspects of distribution, marketing andpublicity for Wellspring's theatrical releases and will report to companypresident Al Cattabiani.
He will work closely with Wellspring's head of acquisitions Marie ThereseGuirgis.
"He can bring us to the next level theatrically and deal with a rapidlychanging marketplace," Cattabiani said in a statement.
"He's also just the right person to continue our mission to cultivate talent byproviding a home for auteurs of the cinema - like Sokurov, Dumont and Panahi -to name a few.
Speaking of last week's acquisition of Wellspring by the Las Vegas-basedinvestment group American Vantage Media, he said: "Our new parent company,American Vantage Media, will enable us to release more, and bigger, filmsbacked with substantially increased marketing resources and horsepower behindeach release.
"American Vantage also brings a variety of new marketing relationships andinitiatives to our business. Ryan is an exceedingly nimble, creative andforward-thinking distribution executive with a great track record."
"Wellspring has brought some of the great films and film-makers of our times toaudiences in this country with great success," Werner added.
"I am proud to join a group of talented people that I am also happy to call myfriends. I think we are going to do some great things, and hope tosurprise people along the way.'
As head of theatrical distribution at Palm Pictures, Werner set up thatcompany's in-house theatrical distribution division and oversaw the release ofpictures like

Matthew Barney's CremasterCycle, The Pang Brother's The Eye and Claude Berri's TheHousekeeper.
Prior to Palm, he served as vice president of acquisitions and distributionfor Eamonn Bowles at both Magnolia Pictures and Shooting Gallery.