As part of its consolidation of its marketing and public relations teams, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group has eliminated 15 positions but also promoted 15 people, an individual with knowledge of the matter tells TheWrap.
The cuts aren’t a downsizing within the film group, as the company intends to hire people to fill the 15 jobs vacated by the promotions. The cuts are also unrelated to the recent AT&T/Time Warner merger, according to the individual.
The changes were announced by Blair Rich, president of worldwide theatrical and home entertainment marketing, in a memo to employees Wednesday night.
Among the people leaving WB are Lance Volland, executive vice president of international publicity, and global field promotion vet Ernie Johnston.
Jack Walker has been promoted to senior vice president, media & digital marketing, home entertainment, and will report to Media EVP Dana Nussbaum and Jessica Schell, the film group’s EVP and general manager.
Meanwhile, theatrical and home entertainment creative content has been combined into one team under Tawny Harrison, who will report to Schell and JP Richards, Warner’s EVP Worldwide Marketing and chief data strategist. Theatrical and home entertainment creative and marketing services have been integrated under Susan Steen. And domestic and international PR teams for both Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have been consolidated under Michelle Slavich, who was named EVP of global publicity earlier this year.
Variety first reported the job cuts.