MarkZucker has been promoted to president of distribution at Sony PicturesReleasing International (SPRI).

Zucker,who previously served as senior executive vice president, will continue tomanage the international distribution of all titles in the Sony fold, includingColumbia Pictures, Revolution Studios, TriStar, Screen Gems, and Sony PicturesClassics.

Basedin Los Angeles, he reports directly to Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group'spresident of worldwide operations Paul Smith.

Zuckerstarted his career with the company in 1984 as vice president of marketing anddistribution administration for TriStar Pictures.

Herose through the ranks at Columbia Pictures Distribution and took on the roleof executive vice president of domestic distribution for Sony PicturesReleasing from 1996-1999.

Zuckerserved as executive vice president of worldwide distribution for ColumbiaPictures in 2000 before he moved into the international arena as SPRI's seniorexecutive vice president from 2001-06.

Releasesduring his tenure as international distribution chief have grossed more than$5bn and his credits include the Spider-Man and Charlie's Angelsfranchises, Men In Black, Hitch, XXX, and PanicRoom.

"Markhas been with Columbia for more than 20 years, and in that time has developedinto one of the best distribution executives in the business," ColumbiaTriStar Motion Picture Group chairman of worldwide marketing and distributionand Sony Pictures Entertainment vice-chairman Jeff Blake said.

"Markis a brilliant distribution strategist and I am so pleased to have him as thehead of our international distribution operation," Smith added.

Priorto Columbia TriStar, Zucker served as director of marketing finance at MGM/UAfrom 1980-1984. He previously served as director of marketing administration atParamount Pictures from 1975-1980.