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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Worldwide has announced that Paul Dempsey, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Worldwide's Managing Director for Home Entertainment, today replaced Richard Green, who has left the company, as 2|entertain's Chief Executive. Dempsey will take on the role in addition to his current post as Home Entertainment MD at the commercial arm of the corporation.

2|entertain was created in July 2004 as a 60:40 joint venture with Woolworths Group, combining the former VCI video/DVD, music and TV production business with ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Worldwide's video publishing arm. Since late last year, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Worldwide has been in negotiation with both Woolworths and subsequently their administrators to acquire the outstanding 40% stake in the business.

Dempsey was appointed to ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Worldwide's Board last December and oversees ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Audiobooks, Audio & Music (comprising music licensing, publishing and content development) and 2|entertain. He also represents ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Worldwide's interests in its joint ventures with Random House (³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Books) and Pearson Education (³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Active), taking a seat on the board of all joint ventures managed within the Home Entertainment business.

Commenting on the new role, Dempsey said: "2|entertain is a terrific British-owned company producing some of the most popular and highest quality DVDs around, including the majority of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ catalogue. Although we are still negotiating terms for the sale of the outstanding 40% stake of 2|entertain, my arrival as Chief Executive is to ensure that the business is in the best possible shape when full ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Worldwide ownership occurs."

Prior to joining ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Worldwide, Dempsey's career was in sales and marketing and included eight years at Mars Confectionery followed by two years as Sales Director of Frontline Ltd, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Worldwide's magazine distribution partnership with H Bauer and Haymarket. He joined ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Worldwide in 1998 as UK Sales Director and became Managing Director of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Audiobooks in 2001. In 2007 he was given responsibility for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Worldwide's Audio & Music business which was established to work closely with its counterpart, the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s Audio & Music division to commercially exploit their programming, archive and brands.

NOTES TO EDITORS
About 2|entertain
2 entertain is the UK's leading global entertainment player, 2|entertain consists of three divisions: 2|entertain video, Demon Records and Banana Split Productions. 2|entertain was created in July 2004 as a joint venture with Woolworths Group, combining the former VCI video/DVD, music and TV production business with ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Worldwide's video publishing arm.

Philip Fleming