Lionsgate has hired the Weinstein Company's Andrew Kramer as chief operations officer of international distribution, studio co-chairs Patrick Wachsberger and Rob Friedman said on Tuesday.

Kramer has been serving as president, business and legal affairs, and general counsel at TWC for the last seven years.  Once his current contract expires in April, Kramer will transition into his new post at Lionsgate.

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“The international theatrical marketplace offers tremendous growth opportunities for Lionsgate, and Andrew is ideally qualified to help us continue to build our momentum around the world,” Wachsberger and Friedman said in a statement announcing the move.  “He is a seasoned business executive who brings multidisciplinary expertise in all aspects of film acquisitions, coproduction, cofinancing, marketing and distribution to the continued growth of our worldwide feature film operations.”

Last year, Lionsgate's worldwide box office sales reached a company record of $2.5 billion after establishing new output deals in France, Germany, Spain, Scandinavia, Benelux, Australia/New Zealand and Russia. 

Kramer, who worked as executive vice president, business affairs and operations at Warner Bros. prior to his tenure at TWC,  will work closely with Lionsgate president Steve Beeks to grow all aspects of Lionsgate’s international film business.

His responsibilities will include international film acquisitions and packaging, creation of international co-production and co-financing opportunities and extension of Lionsgate’s relationships into new territories, overseeing film distribution and marketing operations, and the overall administration of the international film division.