MGM, UA shake up marketing

In a long-expected shake-up in the marketing divisions of struggling Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and United Artists studios, Michael Vollman is leaving his job at Paramount Pictures to head marketing at the sister movie companies. As the new executive vice president of worldwide marketing at MGM, he replaces Perry Stahman.

At UA, Vollman succeeds Dennis Rice as president of worldwide marketing. He will consult with UA Chief Executive Paula Wagner but will report directly to Mary Parent, the recently installed chairwoman of MGM’s Worldwide Motion Picture Group.

Among Vollman’s first tasks will be to determine a marketing strategy for UA’s troubled World War II drama “Valkyrie,” starring Tom Cruise, which was supposed to be released this summer but was pushed back to next February.