Details of the previously announced restructuring of the Buena Vista Home Ent. division were revealed, as BVHE and Buena Vista Home Ent. International are integrated into one global division: Buena Vista Worldwide Home Ent. (BVWHE).

Explained BVWHE president Bob Chapek: "With the rapidly changing landscape facing the home entertainment industry, we need to embrace not only new technologies but the global nature of our business as well. This new organization addresses the need for global strategies and allows for market customization."

Chapek will lead BVWHE along with Pat Fitzgerald, evp of worldwide sales, distribution and trade marketing; Gordon Ho, evp of worldwide marketing, creative content and business development; Richard Ramsey, vp of worldwide human resources and communications; and Kristin McQueen, svp of worldwide business and legal affairs.

In addition to this core worldwide team, Bill Segil has taken on the newly created position of svp, worldwide operations. In this capacity he will broaden his operational scope to include all worldwide supply chain strategies under Fitzgerald. Andy Siditsky has been named svp of worldwide creative services & DVD production and will continue to lead the development of worldwide creative advertising and DVD production under Ho. Siditsky will also add new programming to his responsibilities. Eric Maehara will serve as vp of worldwide communications and will manage worldwide publicity along with trade and home entertainment communications for the new division under Ramsey.

Commenting on the new global team, Chapek added, "Pat Fitzgerald is one of the most aggressive and savvy executives in this industry. I am delighted that he will bring his considerable talents to overseeing our worldwide sales and operational teams."

Chapek continued, "Gordon Ho has been an industry leader and major force in our key marketing and product strategies for BVHE titles. His creative and strategic contributions will be critical to our continued success in the global marketplace. Richard Ramsey has helped build the best team in the industry and will play a key role in building our global team. Kristin McQueen possesses a tremendous ability to quickly assess legal situations and gauge their commercial implications. We are confident that she will continue to successfully lead BVHE business and legal affairs in the global marketplace."

In addition to the worldwide team, the new division will incorporate regional teams to manage day-to-day operations in the markets. The three regions include North America, Asia Pacific/Latin America, and Europe/Middle East and Africa. Lori MacPherson has been named the new gm for North America; Daniel Solnicki has taken on the role of gm for Asia Pacific and Latin America; and Julie Sneddon continues in her position as gm for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Commenting on the regional organization, Chapek stated, "Lori MacPherson's tremendous managerial and leadership skills will continue to drive the North American business. Her successful track record as a marketing leader will continue to innovate with consumer and trade programs and keep us at the forefront of the market."

Chapek added, "Strong regional marketing, sales and distribution executives are key to the successful integration of BVHE product into the marketplace. Daniel Solnicki and Julie Sneddon have demonstrated their formidable talents and abilities to integrate our marketing and sales strategies into diverse cultures. We are delighted that they will help lead our international organizations."

Fitzgerald has led strategic sales efforts behind such record breaking titles as THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL and THE INCREDIBLES. Fitzgerald also leads the division's efforts toward developing new technology in support of new models of digital content distribution, including that of next-generation formats. Pat joined BVHE in 2001 as svp of sales, distribution and trade marketing.