UPI hires Karel de Vries in Holland

Executive replaces Max Van Praag

By ALI JAAFAR

LONDON — Universal Pictures Intl. has tapped Karel de Vries as managing director of its Dutch operations. De Vries will replace Max Van Praag, UPI’s Netherlands general manager, who is ankling the company after 23 years.

De Vries will join UPI at the end of September but not officially take up his new post before the beginning of 2009.

De Vries will report to London-based Duncan Clark, executive VP of international distribution and on daily business to Niels Swinkels, VP sales & distribution, Europe, MidEast and Africa.

De Vries joins UPI from Warner Bros. Holland, where he supervised theatrical sales from 1999 to the present.