Warner Cinemas hires chief for UK expansion

Warner Village Cinemas has appointed its first director of marketing to spearhead the expansion of the company’s UK chain.

Sarah Kelly, former regional marketing director for burger chain Wendy’s International, takes up the post this month.

The appointment is the final stage of a reorganisation of the company’s marketing department. Previously, Warner Village only had a marketing manager but it has decided to upgrade the role and increase the department from one to four personnel. Marketing manager Danielle Walsh left in February to join an Internet start-up.

Kelly will oversee all marketing activity for the existing 28 Warner Village Cinemas as well as forthcoming sites in Birmingham and Worcester.

The company plans to open a further ten sites, making a total of 40, by the end of 2001.

Kelly says: “The cinema exhibition business is one of the most challenging leisure sectors at the moment. I aim to develop the Warner Village brand into the market leader.”

She will work closely with consultancy HDM, which was appointed late last year to devise the company’s marketing and launch strategies.

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