Lionsgate is shaking up its international feature film team following its acquisition of Summit last January and the box office success of "The Hunger Games."
Helen Lee Kim, president of Lionsgate's international sales and distribution arm, will step down from her post later this year, Lionsgate said Thursday.
Kim (left) was a top lieutenant to Liongate's former motion picture group president, Joe Drake. The two joined Lionsgate after it acquired Drake's company Mandate in 2007. Drake is expected to Lionsgate the studio now that he has been replaced by Summit chiefs Patrick Wachsberger and Rob Friedman.
Kim will continue to represent Lionsgate at the Cannes Film Market.
Wachsberger will oversee the international division and has outfitted Lionsgate's ranks with veterans of the studio and former Summit executives.
"Backed by a tremendous pipeline of films, we believe that this team of entrepreneurial executives is superbly qualified to lead the Lionsgate and Summit brands for years to come in an international marketplace rich with opportunity," Wachsberger said in a statement.
Wachsberger will lead the international sales team, handling select territories himself. He will be joined by Executive Vice President of International Sales Anne-Marie Ross and Senior Vice President of International Sales Crystal Bourbeau, and Executive Vice President Wendy Reeds.
Ross is an 11-year Lionsgate veteran. She will oversee feature film sales for several European territories as well as Latin America and Japan.
Bourbeau has worked for Lionsgate International since 2007, managing territories in Asia and Eastern Europe. Her responsibilities have also been expanded to include additional European territories such as Spain.
Reeds will be based in Hong Kong. In addition to her duties at Lionsgate, she will continue to work for Celestial Tiger Entertainment, the studio's Asian entertainment venture with the Saban Capital Group and Astro's Celestial Pictures. She will oversee the sales and distribution of Lionsgate's new film and TV releases and library content in Southeast Asia and China.
Lionsgate's international marketing and publicity operations will be overseen by Jill Jones. Jones previously served for four years as senior vice president, international marketing and publicity, for Summit Entertainment. .
Another former Summit executive, Brad Kembel, will oversee international distribution operations for the division. Kembel had been a senior international distribution executive for Summit for the past 20 years, overseeing worldwide distribution of theatrical, home entertainment and television content.