Warner Bros. names new development vp

Burbank, Calif. Bruno Schwobthaler has been promoted to senior vp of sales and business development for Warner Bros. consumer products Europe / Middle East / Africa (WBCP EMEA). The announcement was made today by Pilar Zulueta, senior vp and general manager for Warner Bros Consumer Products EMEA, to whom Schwobthaler will continue to report.

 Schwobthaler's responsibilities include: managing the commercial agenda for the EMEA region, overseeing development and implementation of marketing, sales and retail plans for selected properties, and managing the regional development of new business initiatives, including negotiations and implementation.

In June of 2000, Schwobthaler was promoted to vp in Northern Europe where he was tasked with running WBCP's business in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France and Benelux.

In 2002, he was enlisted for the new position of vp of sales and business development, EMEA to lead a number of new initiatives including the development of WBCP's football licensing business with UEFA Euro 2004.

Schwobthaler began his WBCP career in 1997 as a general manager by forming the German office in Hamburg.  Prior to his time with WBCP, Schwobthaler worked at Hasbro where he served as European regional marketing director for toys and as head of marketing in Germany.