Sony Pictures has upped Valerie Van Galder and Marc Weinstock to the newly created positions of co-presidents of worldwide marketing and distribution for the studio in a restructuring that will put the studio's global marketing structure under one roof.
The promotions reunite Van Galder and Weinstock, who worked together for more than a decade, first at Fox Searchlight. They will report to Jeff Blake, the studio's president of worldwide marketing and distribution.
Together, they will oversee worldwide marketing campaigns for all films released through Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Animation.
Van Galder is a marketing vet, overseeing domestic marketing for Columbia Pictures since January 2006, and before that, serving as president of TriStar Pictures. Prior to that, she oversaw marketing and publicity at Screen Gems, and brought Weinstock over to the genre label in 2000.
Over the years, the duo have been marketing architects for 28 films that topped number one at the box office.
"Val and Marc are recognized as two of the most creative, imaginative and strategic motion picture marketers in the industry today," Blake said. "They have worked magnificently well together as partners for more than a decade and they have an incredible and enviable track record of success."
Among the future marketing campaigns Van Galder and Weinstock will shape are Columbia's "Quantum of Solace," "Angels & Demons" and "2012." The Screen Gems campaigns they will oversee include "Lakeview Terrace" and "Quarantine," and the Sony Pictures Animation features "Hotel Transylvania" and the recently announced "Smurfs" movie.
Both Van Galder and Weinstock have overseen marketing and publicity for several Sony films. As executive vp of marketing for Screen Gems, Van Galder launched several top films, including "The Exorcism of Emily Rose," "Underworld" and "Resident Evil: Apocalypse."
Weinstock succeeded Van Galder when she moved over to president of TriStar, where she developed three films: "Running with Scissors," "Silent Hill" and "Premonition."
Weinstock oversaw marketing for "Resident Evil: Extinction," "Stomp the Yard" and "Underworld: Evolution."
Prior to Sony, Van Galder was senior vp of marketing and publicity for Fox Searchlight, overseeing the launch of such films as "The Full Monty" and "Waking Ned Devine."
Weinstock spent three years as director of marketing at Fox Searchlight, negotiating multi-million dollar offline partnerships with such companies as Max Factor and Borden Foods, and alliances with AOl and Barnes & Noble.