Warner Village chief leaves after buyout

Warner Village Cinemas marketing chief Sarah Kelly has left the company following its acquisition by a rival chain. Kelly, director of sales and marketing for the past three years, is not believed to have a job to go to.

Warner Village was bought by SBC International Cinemas last week, and the name will be changed to Vue in a &£2m rebranding exercise of its 36 sites (MW last week). Mark de Quervan, SBC senior vice-president for marketing, will head marketing at the holding company, called Vue Entertainment.

Kelly was the first director of marketing appointed by Warner Village, and took the role in May 2000 (MW May 11, 2000). She joined from her position as regional marketing director for Europe and the Middle East at burger chain Wendy’s International.

Quervan will be reviewing Warner Village’s agency arrangements. The company uses Alcone for advertising and Alchemy for direct marketing, while MediaCom handles media planning and buying. SBC has appointed its own website agency, Peach Digital, to develop a Vue website for information and booking transactions.

Plans include revamping the Warner West End site so the company can compete with Leicester Square’s Odeon and Empire cinemas in attracting film premieres and the attendant publicity.

Warner Village was a joint venture between Warner Bros and Australian cinema chain Village Roadshow.