Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) announced several key promotions within its European distribution team and the expansion of its new digital initiatives group in response to the growth of digital content distribution in Europe. Stuart Baxter has been promoted to evp, European distribution. Danny Goldman has been named svp, sales, and Nina Pustilnik joins the company as vp, digital initiatives.
Baxter, who is based at SPTIs European headquarters in London and who reports to John McMahon, SPTIs president/md, Europe, continues to oversee the distribution of all Sony Pictures Ent.s feature films and television product to television outlets throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) in addition to taking overall responsibility for the digital initiatives team, which will be led by Pustilnik.
McMahon said, Stuarts promotion acknowledges the strong results our European distribution team has achieved under his leadership and the added responsibilities he is now taking on as we expand our business in the digital and electronic distribution media. The emergence of technologies that offer new ways of distributing our movies and programming presents exciting opportunities for our business. With the strengthening of the distribution team, we are set to exploit these opportunities and to drive forward this part of our business into new growth areas.
Danny Goldman, who reports to Baxter, will continue the direct management of the London-based international sales teams servicing the U.K., Ireland, Northern, Central and Eastern Europe as well as Africa and the Middle East. He continues to be based at SPTIs European headquarters in London.
Pustilnik, who joins SPTI in the newly-created position of vp, digital initiatives, is responsible for identifying and developing new opportunities for the digital and electronic delivery of SPE content by means of video on-demand (VOD), subscription video on-demand and electronic sell-through (EST) across the EMEA. She will also pursue the development of broader strategic services, such as SPTIs investment in the FilmFlex VOD service in the U.K. She will lead a team of digital media experts based in London who will work closely with all of SPTIs local sales offices throughout the EMEA.
Baxter said, I am pleased to announce the promotion of Danny Goldman, someone who has played a pivotal role in the success of our distribution business in what are key markets for SPTI. I am also delighted to welcome Nina to our team at this critical juncture in the development of the business. Nina comes to SPTI with a wealth of experience in exploring and exploiting opportunities in new media markets. The increased resources we are bringing to the team are an essential part of our efforts to grow and evolve our business throughout Europe.
Baxter joined SPTI in 2003 as svp, European distribution. He came to SPTI from Warner Bros. Intl Television Distribution in London, where he served as vp, international business development. He joined Warner Bros. Intl Television Distribution in 1998 as director, business development. Previously, Baxter was at EBN/CNBC, where he served for two years as commercial director of the 24-hour channel (a joint venture from Dow Jones/NBC). Prior to that, Baxter served for five years as gm of the satellite communication services company, Maxat Ltd., a subsidiary of France Telecom, where he was responsible for launching the venture.
Goldman joined SPTI in 2000 as vp, sales, for the U.K. Prior to SPTI, he worked at Initiative Media London where he served as managing partner, Initiative.com and director of Initiative Media, running the company's digital arm. Previous to this position, Goldman served as manager, international media with Motive Communications, Ltd. where he oversaw strategic media planning.
Pustilnik joins SPTI from Warner Bros. where she was most recently vp, electronic sell-through and new media market development, EMEA, Warner Home Video. She was previously vp, corporate business development and strategy, Europe. Prior to joining Warner Bros., she held executive positions at Societe Generale Cowen Securities Ltd., J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd., McKinsey & Co. and CS First Boston.
Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) is the division of Sony Pictures Ent. (SPE) responsible for all television business outside of the U.S.
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