Alex Walton joins Exclusive as president of international sales

Walton wasted little time resurfacing following the closure in March of Paramount Vantage International, where he served as senior vice-president of international sales.

Based in LA, he will handle films from Exclusive’s production divisions Hammer Films and Spitfire Pictures, as well as third party pick-ups. He reports to Exclusive Film Distribution chairman Guy East.

“We are excited that Alex is joining us to spearhead the next stage of our international expansion,” East said. “He will be very actively looking to acquire third party productions as well as masterminding with me and Peter Naish our growing international sales and distribution operation.”

“I am looking forward to being a part of the very ambitious plans that Exclusive have,” Walton said. “They are a company that can operate as a sales agent and financier, enabling them to be an extremely valuable partner to both independent producers and studios.”

Naish previously served as head of sales and becomes senior vice-president of distribution. He will continue to run the European office in London in addition to his new responsibilities. The London office will report to Walton.

“It has always been a key component of our strategy that we are not just a sales operation, but want to be an active supplier of mainstream commercial movies to our international distribution and co-production partners,” East said.

“Peter has extensive on-the-ground distribution experience, particularly with Hammer, and will be working even more closely with our partners to maximize their releases in all media. His expanded role is vital to our strategic growth plans.”

Prior to Paramount, Walton was director of international sales at HanWay Films in the UK where he handled such films as Match Point, Goya’s Ghosts, Fast Food Nation and The Squid And The Whale.

Exclusive is in post-production on the Swedish vampire remake Let Me In for Hammer Films and Overture Films, as well as Peter Weir’s The Way Back. Hammer Films’ The Resident starring Hilary Swank and Jeffrey Dean Morgan is also in post-production.