Entertainment One has hired former Protagonist Pictures head of sales Charlotte van Weede to do the same job at its international film division, based in London.

The first high-profile hire by managing director Sally Caplan fills the freshly created job of head of sales as Toronto-based Entertainment One continues ramping up its international film division.

Caplan came on board Entertainment One in November 2011 with a mandate to handle more mainstream movies and build relationships with film producers and distributors in Europe and elsewhere internationally.

Van Weede joined Protagonist in 2008, handling international rights, and before that served as director of international films for HanWay Films, where her credits included Creation, Nowhere Boy and David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method.

Charlotte Mickie and her Canadian film distribution division will continue to handle product from local filmmakers, and acquire specialist films from outside Canada.