Buena Vista UK chief to head Europe

Buena Vista Home Entertainment has promoted its UK marketing director to vice-president of marketing for Europe. She will spearhead the company’s move into DVD.

In the newly-created role, Helen Stratton will lead the consolidation of Buena Vista’s marketing across Europe. She will report to Phil Jackson, senior vice-president and managing director of Buena Vista in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and US-based Chris Brown, international vice-president of marketing.

Stratton joined Walt Disney-owned Buena Vista in 1995, after heading consumer marketing at Wella. She has overseen the release of videos such as The Lion King and A Bug’s Life.

The company’s European marketing departments will now report to Stratton, who will focus on developing a strategy to market the studio’s films on DVD in the autumn.

A Buena Vista spokeswoman said it was too early to say if the company would replace Stratton in the UK.

Jackson says: “Stratton has made a huge impact on the way Buena Vista markets its releases. Our marketing teams around Europe will benefit from her classic marketing expertise and strategic vision.”