Alison Thompson is joining Focus Features as president of Focus International as Universal Pictures’ specialty films unit expands its European division to handle worldwide sales and distribution for its 2005-06 slate.

Thompson, who will be based in London, will oversee all international sales, distribution and publicity activities. She will report to Focus co-presidents David Linde and James Schamus, both of whom announced her appointment Monday, as well as to Focus chief operating officer Andrew Karpen.

In taking over Focus’ international sales efforts, Thompson steps into the arena that had been overseen by Glen Basner, who resigned in June as Focus’ New York-based executive vp international sales and distribution, to join the new Weinstein Co. as president of international (HR 6/9).

Thompson has been chief of U.K.-based Pathe Pictures International, Pathe U.K.’s international sales and marketing division. Pathe said Monday that Thompson will be replaced by Mike Runagall, who has been serving as the international sales manager for the French-owned and London-based Pathe business unit.

Along with naming Thompson, Focus also said Allison Silver, Tim Spencer and Heta Paarte — its three Focus International execs who are based in New York — will take on added duties.

Silver, who joined Focus from Miramax Films as a production executive in 2002, was recently promoted to vp international physical production. Spencer, who has been at Focus since it was formed in May 2002, is vp international sales. Paarte, who also has been with Focus since its inception, is vp international marketing. Silver, Spencer and Paarte will report to Thompson.

Thompson also will work closely with president of production John Lyons, senior vp acquisitions Jason Resnick and vp acquisitions and production Lee Magiday on all facets of European production and acquisitions.

Said Linde and Schamus in a statement: "With an exceptional team already in place and at work on our increased slate, we are pleased to have Alison joining us to take Focus International to new heights. Her wealth of expertise in worldwide sales and distribution, coupled with her established relationships with top filmmakers, make her uniquely qualified to captain the continued expansion of Focus in the international marketplace."

While at Pathe, Thompson handled films like "The Motorcycle Diaries," which Focus released domestically.

Before Pathe, she was chief executive of U.K. sales agency Sales Co. for 13 years and represented more than 100 films. She began her career at the Rank Organization and Channel Four and is currently co-chair of Film Export U.K.

Pathe U.K. managing director Francois Ivernel said in a statement that he wishes Thompson well.

Before his three-year tenure at Pathe, Runagall worked at the British Film Institute and in international sales at FilmFour.

There will be a transition period of a few weeks as Thompson and Pathe negotiate an exit strategy ahead of a busy fall market period, with the Venice and Toronto festivals looming large on the calendar.

Upcoming Focus releases that Focus International is handling world sales and distribution for include Jim Jarmusch’s "Broken Flowers," Fernando Meirelles’ "The Constant Gardener," Harold Ramis’ "The Ice Harvest," Sanaa Hamri’s "Something New," Rian Johnson’s "Brick," Shane Acker’s animated fantasy epic "9" and Ang Lee’s "Brokeback Mountain."

Focus International also is handling the overseas distribution of Ben Younger’s "Prime," Roberto Benigni’s "The Tiger and the Snow" in territories other than Italy, Ronny Yu’s "Fearless" in territories outside Asia, Danis Tanovic’s "Hell," Isabel Coixet’s "The Secret Life of Words" and Christophe Gans’ "Silent Hill."

It also is handling world sales and distribution for the following titles from Rogue Pictures, Focus’ genre arm: Jeff Wadlow’s "Cry Wolf," an untitled supernatural thriller starring Sarah Michelle Gellar from director Asif Kapadia and Eduardo Sanchez’s "Altered."