Sue Kroll Adds Domestic Distribution to Responsibilities at Warner Bros. Pictures Now Serves as President, Worldwide Marketing and Distribution; Veronika Kwan Vandenberg Moves Up to President, Worldwide Distribution
(July 29, 2015 – Burbank, CA) – In a move that consolidates the Studio’s domestic and international film distribution into a global function, Sue Kroll has been promoted to President, Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg has been promoted to President, Worldwide Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures. These promotions were announced today by Kevin Tsujihara, Chairman and CEO, Warner Bros., to whom Kroll will report.
Warner Bros. Pictures’ domestic distribution was previously handled by Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, who recently announced he will leave the Studio at the end of the year.
“Entertainment is a global business, and combining domestic and international film distribution is the logical evolution of our operations,” said Tsujihara.
“Sue and Veronika are great executives with global perspectives and expertise that will serve this new structure well,” Tsujihara continued. “Veronika has headed up our international distribution for the last 15 years and we know she’ll bring the same thoughtful, strategic management to our domestic film operations. And, Sue is widely known and respected for her acumen and success in marketing and distribution in the global film marketplace. Dan has been a formidable force in the distribution world, and there’s no one better to continue his great work on our behalf than Veronika and Sue.”
“Veronika and I have been partners for years, and I look forward to this next chapter in our professional relationship,” said Kroll. “I’d also like to acknowledge the legacy of excellence and achievement that Dan and his team have established. There’s a high bar set for us, and I’m confident that working together as a global team, we’ll continue this success.”
“I am very fortunate to have worked closely with my colleague and dear friend Dan Fellman throughout these years,” said Kwan Vandenberg. “Our domestic film team is the best in the business, and I’m excited to be working with Jeff Goldstein (Executive Vice President and General Sales Manager) and the entire domestic distribution group. Bringing all of our talented executives’ distribution expertise together into a worldwide organization will help us to maximize every opportunity for success.”
Kroll most recently served as President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures, a role she’d held since 2013. Prior to that, she served as President, Worldwide Marketing, Warner Bros. Pictures. As marketing chief, she oversees the strategic creation and implementation of marketing campaigns for the Studio’s global releases. Additionally, she collaborates closely with Greg Silverman, President of Warner Bros. Pictures Creative Development and Worldwide Production, and Toby Emmerich, New Line Cinema’s President and COO, on the strategic development of a diversified production slate to build upon the Studio’s success. Kroll also served as President, International Marketing, Warner Bros. Pictures, having joined the Studio in 1994 to head programming and operations for Warner Bros. International Channels.
Kwan Vandenberg most recently served as President, International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures, a post to which she was promoted in November 2000. In this role, she has been instrumental in helping fully maximize the overseas revenue-generating potential of Warner Bros.’ theatrical releases. Working with Kroll, she oversees the release of the Studio’s films in over 120 territories and supervises the international theatrical distribution teams in Burbank and abroad, managing all matters relating to film distribution and release functions, including dating strategies, competitive positioning, tracking of box-office grosses and film rentals, exhibitor trade relations, filmmaker relationships, tracking international film performances and market data and trends, as well as divisional anti-piracy efforts for Warner Bros. Pictures International. Previously, Kwan Vandenberg served as Senior Vice President, International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.