Gary Mitchell Joins NATPE’s European Team

LOS ANGELES/LONDON: NATPE has appointed Gary Mitchell as European business development executive, based in the U.K.

Mitchell was VP of international sales at DLT Entertainment UK in London. Prior to this he was director of sales at Portman Entertainment Group and sales manager at Chatsworth Television Distributors. Alongside his new role at NATPE, Mitchell will continue to represent his existing clients. He is replacing Pam Smithard, who is leaving after 15 years with NATPE as its European director to pursue other projects.

Rick Feldman, NATPE’s president and CEO, commented: “We’re pleased to invite Gary to join us at NATPE as our development executive in Europe—he has a great deal of experience in the international distribution business and has been attending NATPE events for many years. In these difficult times it is vital that content owners take advantage of every opportunity to meet buyers and potential partners. Our association continues to host one of the key events of the distribution calendar and we have created a number of cost effective ways for distributors of all sizes and countries to exhibit in Las Vegas in 2010.”

Mitchell added, “I am delighted to join NATPE at this important time. Through its international events, NATPE has a lot to offer to companies looking to do business in the U.S. and Latin America. It is increasingly hard to get programming noticed, but by being at NATPE in January, content owners are making an important first step in getting their shows in front of the right people and making crucial contacts and sales.”