Alison Thompson leaves Pathe International
by Annika Pham
The veteran and highly respected sales executive Alison Thompson has left Pathe International to join the US specialised arm of Universal Pictures Focus International. As president of Focus Features’ international division, she will remain in London to oversee the company’s international sales, distribution, and publicity activities as part of the company’s strategy to expand on the European scene. In this new key role, she will work closely with Focus’ president of production John Lyons, senior vp of acquisitions Jason Resnick and vp acquisitions and production Lee Magiday on all facets of European production and acquisitions, while reporting to Focus’ co-presidents David Linde and James Schamus, as well as CEO Andrew Karper.
«With an exceptional team already in place and at work on our increased slate, we are pleased to have Alison joining us to take Focus International to new heights», said Linde and Schamus. «Her wealth of expertise in worldwide sales and distribution, coupled with her established relationships with top filmmakers, make her uniquely qualified to captain the continued expansion of Focus on the international marketplace».
Indeed Alison Thompson who is the co-chair of Film Export UK, is regarded as one of the most respected and established London sales executive, having worked on over 100 feature films during her 13 years as sales executive at The Sales Company prior to joining Pathe UK. Among the titles Thompson represented for Pathe International was Walter Salles’ The Motorcycle Diaries which was released in the US by Focus.
Current titles on Focus International’s slate include Roberto Benigni’s The Tiger And The Snow (outside of Italy) and Christopher Gans’ Silent Hill.
Thompson’s vacant position as chief of Pathe Pictures International will be filled by Mike Runagall who has been working for the last three years as international sales manager for the French-owned London sales company. Prior to Pathe, Runagall worked at the British Film Institute and in the international sales department at Film Four.
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