Thomas Gewecke, President, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution and Ron Sanders, President, Warner Home Video today announced the promotion of Jim Wuthrich to President, International Home Video and Digital Distribution.

Warner Bros. created the Home Entertainment Group in 2005 to bring together the complementary home entertainment businesses under one unified strategy. This newly created position furthers those efforts by bringing closer alignment to the Studio’s packaged goods and digital businesses globally.

In this newly created post, Wuthrich will report to both Sanders and Gewecke, working closely with the international territories to identify strategic opportunities for the Home Entertainment Group abroad while implementing the Company’s current growth priorities. Marc Gareton, currently serving as Executive Vice President, International, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, Yves Caillaud, Warner Home Video’s current Senior Vice President, International, and Chris Dyde, Senior Vice President, International Licensee will now report to Wuthrich in the consolidated structure with Caillaud overseeing EMEA, Gareton overseeing Asia and Pacific, and Dyde coordinating international licensees.

“Jim has been an integral part of this Company for over 10 years,” said Sanders. “He is uniquely qualified for this position in that he has a deep understanding of and hands on experience in both our packaged goods and digital businesses.”

Throughout his career with the Studio, Wuthrich has been central to the development and growth of the home entertainment business, forming strong alliances with Apple, Amazon, Sony and Microsoft, arranging deals with numerous vendors for the licensing of Warner Bros’ content for download.

“In this new position, Jim will continue to play a key role in shaping our international day-and-date VOD strategy, while helping manage our physical and digital growth abroad,” said Gewecke. “He has been a huge asset to us and I look forward to continuing to work with him as our business evolves.”

Wuthrich has been a part of the digital effort since the Studio first began integrating its digital and packaged goods businesses with the successful launch of Digital Copy, which is now being offered by nearly all the major studios. He has also been on the forefront of the Company’s efforts to evaluate emerging technologies like manufacturing on demand and SD card kiosk devices.

Prior to his most recent role as Senior Vice President, Digital Distribution, Wuthrich served as SVP, Electronic Sell-Through and Interactive Marketing, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, where he was responsible for developing the market for digitally distributed entertainment product on a worldwide basis. He joined Warner Home Video in 1998 as Director, Marketing and was promoted to Vice President, Marketing Theatrical New Release, Warner Home Video in 2003, managing the release of over 100 titles from film to DVD, including such favorites as “Batman Begins,” “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” “March of the Penguins” and “The Polar Express.”

A graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program, Wuthrich also holds a degree in business from University of Wisconsin-Madison.