MUMBAI: Tracy McKnight has been named vice president of Film Music for the music arm of Lionsgate.

The appointment is paired with the recent promotion of Russell Ziecker to head Lionsgate’s television music operations. McKnight will work on numerous major film projects for Lionsgate’s feature film slate in her new role, including FIVE KILLERS, starring Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl, Warrior, starring Nick Nolte, and The Winning Season, with Sam Rockwell and Emma Roberts.

McKnight’s film credits include studio films as The Ex, Friends With Money and The Ice Harvest, acclaimed documentaries Born Into Brothels and Murderball and independent films such as Coffee And Cigarettes and The Guitar. Prior to joining the Lionsgate Music team, McKnight co-founded Commotion Records with Walter Yetnikoff. Commotion’s impressive slate of releases includes the acclaimed film soundtracks from Hotel Rwanda, The Cooler and My Architect.

McKnight recently completed work with Superbad director Greg Mottola on Adventureland or Miramax, and with first-time director Sophie Barthes on Cold Souls starring Paul Giamatti, Emily Watson and David Strathairn. In addition to her work as a supervisor, label head and now VP Film Music at Lionsgate, McKnight continues to be an ally of the Sundance Institute/Festival, participating for the past 10 years in their Producers Conference and Composers Lab as an advisor, as well as co-programming the Festival’s yearly Music Meets Film concert. She also advises for the Independent Film Project and has served on the host committee for the Gotham Awards.

"Nobody understands the combination of music and film better than Tracy," said Faires. "Lionsgate prides itself on producing and releasing some of the most original, distinctive and provocative films in the world. With Tracy coming aboard, we now have in place an executive who can add to the power of our upcoming film slate with equally fresh, dynamic and exciting music."