Milton Keynes-based easyCinema has appointed Charles Wesoky, a veteran of the cinema industry, as its new chief executive.

The move comes as the company, part of the easyGroup, attempts to jostle film distributors – which have so far prevented the cinema from showing new movies – to provide the company with the latest releases.

Wesoky joins easyCinema from London-based EuroplexCinemas, which has screens in Switzerland, Italy and Greece.

The appointment marks a significant turnaround in strategy and suggests that easyCinema and its owner, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, have allayed their tactics in order to land first run films.

Only last year, Haji-Ioannou threatened to sue Hollywood studios in the US over their decision not to provide easyCinema with new releases.

The company now hopes that Wesoky’s experience in the international cinema industry will provide the group with the contacts and respect needed to make the distributors more receptive to easyCinema’s cause.

The only first run title shown at easyCinema to date is 20th Century Fox’s Down With Love.

Earlier this month, Haji-Ioannou met representatives from the European Competition Commission – headed by Mario Monti – on the issue of not being given access to new releases. Details: www.easycinema.com