Lynne to Head New Line Film Unit

AOL Time Warner Inc., the media and Internet company, said it promoted Michael Lynne to co-chairman and co-chief executive of its New Line Cinema film unit.

Lynne, 59, has been president and chief operating officer of the unit since 1990, AOL Time Warner said in a statement. Before joining New Line, Lynne was the film distributor’s outside counsel and has been a member of its board since 1983.

Lynne’s promotion follows other management changes at New Line after America Online Inc. completed its purchase of Time Warner Inc. early this year. In January, New Line’s president of production, Michael De Luca, left and was replaced by Toby Emmerich.

New York-based New Line also said it changed its management structure so that all of its divisions will report to one of three executives, including Emmerich, Rolf Mittweg and Steve Abramson.

Mittweg was promoted to president and chief operating officer of worldwide distribution and marketing. He will oversee distribution, marketing, New Line Home Video, New Line Television and the company’s business affairs division. Chief Financial Officer Abramson will oversee finance and accounting, human resources, information technology and New Line’s business development division.