Int’l execs rise in Warner sales rejig

Robert Blair and Jim Brehm have both landed expanded senior international distribution posts at Warner Bros.

Blair (left) becomes executive VP of international sales at Warner Bros. International Television Distribution, while Brehm (below right) has been named EVP, global operations and administration at Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Distribution.

They will both report into Jeffrey Schlesinger, who remains president of Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Distribution, a post that sees leading both domestic and international TV sales.

Brehm’s post hands him control of all global television business operations, including finance, admin, planning and analysis, while Blair will oversee the Warner Bros. international sales team across all platforms.

Blair has been with Warner for 19 years, originally at its Canadian office and most recently as EVP, WBITVD in EMEA, and Brehm has spent nearly three decades with the Burbank-based studio, most recently as WBITVD’s EVP of Canada, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

Both were promoted to lead the international distribution arm in 2013, the same year Kevin Tsujihara became Warner Bros. Entertainment president and Schlesinger became both international production and distribution chief.

“Robert and Jim have done remarkable jobs during their many years with our group,” said Schlesinger. “These promotions and this realignment of their responsibilities, perfectly play to each of these executive’s strengths.

“As the global television marketplace continues to evolve, shift and be disrupted by new business models, having Jim and Robert’s leadership and vision will serve our distribution business well now and in the future.”

The news comes soon after Warner Bros. brought Warner Bros. Television Production UK (fka Shed Media) under the control of Warner Bros. International Television Production, with Claire Hungate and Nick Emmerson leaving as part of those changes.