Lionsgate UK hires HBO exec

Lionsgate has hired HBO’s VP of international distribution to become its head of television for the UK and Eastern Europe.

Roberta Ibba-Hartog previously oversaw sales for HBO in Central and Eastern Europe, Korea and Japan. Prior to HBO, she was director of sales for Sony Pictures, covering the Nordic, Benelux and CEE regions.

Ibba-Hartog will now run sales of Lionsgate titles in the UK, Ireland and Eastern Europe. On the TV side, this means series such as Mad Men, Boss and Anger Management; in movies, Ralph Fiennes’ new feature Coriolanus, David Cronenberg’s upcoming A Dangerous Method, plus The Expendables 2.

Lionsgate UK chief operating officer Guy Avshalom said of Ibba-Hartog’s appointment: “She brings a broad range of experience and enthusiasm to this new post as well as a diversity of experience and a wealth of close, productive relationships within the industry.”

The appointment comes after Lionsgate earlier this week confirmed the US$412.5m buy-out of Summit Entertainment in the US, bringing the company behind the Twilight saga into its fold and making it one of the larger US studios.