Company Launches & Partnerships
Mattel is placing content production under one umbrella with new division, Mattel Creations in order to drive premium content across multiple platforms including theatrical, television and digital. Catherine Balsam-Schwaber will join Mattel in the new role of Chief Content Officer, where she will lead Mattel’s efforts to implement an integrated strategy for content creation and distribution. Christopher Keenan has been upped from Creative Executive to the SVP, Content Development & Production. Richard Gros will serve as Chief Human Resources Officer, Juliana Chugg will serve as Global Core Brands Officer and John Vandemore has been named the Chief Financial Officer, Global Brands and Commercial.
Chinese streaming giant iQIYI is set to launch in Taiwan this week. This will mark the first time that iQIYI has reached a territory outside of mainland China.
Lionsgate is partnering with Kevin Hart and his digital production unit, Hartbeat Digital. The OTT service, called Laugh Out Loud, will be the exclusive home for all content created by Hart outside of his live performances and film roles. Hart will also produce a new social media adventure game developed by the company Fifth Journey as part of the deal, which Hart will write and star in.
WWE has signed a multi-year deal with Snapchat. Under the pact, Snapchat will produce and distribute Live Stories from WWE events, including Wrestlemania. The first Live Story distributed under the partnership will be April 3’s WrestleMania 32 event in Arlington, Texas.
Online women’s media company SheKnows Media will acquire HelloFlo, a women’s health brand that offers videos, advice and products directed toward women and girls. HelloFlo Founder Naama Bloom, will continue to head the business ahead of the acquisition along with her new role as SVP of Integrated Marketing at SheKnows Media.
Film
Kyle Davies has been named the President of Domestic Distribution at Paramount Pictures. He previously was the President of Worldwide Distribution for Relativity Media. Davies also served Relativity as President of Theatrical Distribution following the company’s acquisition of Overture Films’ marketing and distribution assets.
Barbara Broccoli has been named BAFTA’s VP for Film. She co-owns EON Productions with her brother Micael G. Wilson and together they have produced the last eight Bond films including Spectre. Greg Dyke has been appointed BAFTA’s VP for TV.
David Kosse is now the President of STX International. This new division will identify and execute global opportunities for development, production and distribution of STX’s content. As part of the new division, STX will be setting up its own distribution operations in the UK. He was previously the Head of Film4. He will consult Film4 through winter and oversee the transition to his successor.
Jason Cassidy is leaving his post as Chief of Marketing at Open Road Films to pursue other opportunities. Jonathan Helfgot has been hired as President of Marketing at Open Road Films. Previously Helfgot founded the Rec Room, an original and branded content studio, where he was also a Managing Partner.
Dion Foley is now the Principal and Producer at production company Push Play Productions. He was previously a Producer at Nasser Entertainment / Nasser Group North.
Jonathan Helfgot has been named the President of Marketing at Open Road Films. He was previously Founded and was the Managing Partner at Rec Room.
Matt Jackson has been named the Head of Film Production & Acquisitions at The Mark Gordon Co. He was previously the President of Production at IM Global.
Rachel Traub has been upped from Executive Assistant to Creative Executive of Film & Scripted Television at Warrior Poets in New York.
TV
Natasha Hritzuk has been named the VP of Client Insights and Content Partnerships Research at Turner and will handle research strategy and data analysis for Turner Incite, Turner’s intelligence platform for ad sales. She previously served as Global Head of Research and Insights for Microsoft Advertising.
Mark Pedowitz has reupped at the CW and signed a new multi-year contract to continue to serve as President. He joined the CW in 2011 after heading Business Affairs at ABC.
Laurel Weir has been named the SVP of Strategic Insights & Research at MTV. She was formerly the SVP of Strategic Insights & Research at Viacom Kids and Family Group in New York.
Casey Kyber has been upped from SVP of Research & Marketing to the VP of Drama Development at 20th Century Fox Television.
Cort Lane has been upped from VP of Animation Development & Partnerships to the SVP of Animation & Family Entertainment at Marvel.
Nicolas Atlan is now pursuing other opportunities. He was previously the Co-CEO at Splash Entertainment. Steve Rosen has been upped from Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer to the Co-CEO at Splash Entertainment. Mike Young has been named Chairman in addition to his role as Co-CEO at Splash Entertainment.
David Di Lorenzo has been named the President at Kabillion. He was previously the VP of Sales & Digital Distribution at Splash Entertainment.
David Ellender has been named the President of Global Distribution & Co-Productions at Sonar Entertainment. He was previously the CEO at Slingshot Global Media.
Cyrus Farrokh has been upped from VP of Distribution & Acquisitions to the SVP and Head of Sales at Electus International. Max Richards has been upped from Executive Assistant to Manager of Sales & Acquisitions at Electus International.
Eli Kirschner has been upped from Director of Development to the VP of Development at Syfy.
Stacey Kleiger has been upped from Production Manager to the VP of Production at Warrior Poets.
Chris Peña has been named the SVP of Local Media Television News at Univision Communications at Miami. He was previously the Senior Executive Producer at MSNBC. Lourdes Torres has been upped from VP, Regional News and Director of Special Projects to the SVP of Political Coverage & Special Projects at Univision. Eric Ratchman has been named the EVP of Content Distribution at Univision in New York. He was previously the SVP of Global Distribution Strategy & Business Development at Disney Media Networks.
Mario Ruiz has been upped from SVP of Talent Development & Strategy to the SVP of Music & Entertainment Projects at Telemundo in Miami.
Hillary Smotherman has been upped from Casting Producer to the Director of Casting at 44 Blue Productions.
Tara Taghizadeh has been upped from Publicist to Senior Publicist at BBC Worldwide North America.
Gaude Paez has been named the VP and Head of Corporate Communications at Hulu. She was previously the SVP Corporate Communications and Digital Publicity at Fox Broadcast Co. She will be based at Hulu’s headquarters in Santa Monica and reporting to Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins.
Steve November is leaving his post as Director of Drama at ITV after 16 years to pursue other opportunities. Prior to working at ITV he produced flagship ITV soaps Emmerdale and Coronation Street.
Amy Friedman has been named SVP Programming and Development for Sprout and will handle all content for the 24-hour preschool network, reporting to Frances Berwick, President of Lifestyle Networks, NBCUniversal. Friedman takes over for Andrew Beecham, who left the company in early 2016 after a 10-year tenure. Previously, she was the Senior Advisor for Scratch, Viacom’s creative team.
Management, PR, Agencies
Jennie Church-Cooper is now a Manager of Talent & Literary, Haven Entertainment She was formerly a Manager of Talent & Literary at Principato-Young Entertainment.
Micaela Coria has been named the Executive Director of Business Strategy at BLKBX. She was formerly the VP of Operations at Evolution Holistic Medical Group. Paul Nguyen has been named the Executive Director of Operations at BLKBX. He was previously the Director of Operations at Sony DADC New Media Solutions.
Margaret Riley has been made Partner at Talent & Literary at Lighthouse Management & Media. She was formerly a Manager of Talent & Literary at Brillstein Entertainment Partners.
Music, Digital, Publishing, Misc.
Jacqueline Vignone is now the VP of National Sales & Marketing at HelloGiggles, Time Inc.’s mobile- and social-first women’s brand. Previously, Vignone served as Director of Sales for CBS Digital Media Group.
Andrea Ching has been named the Chief Marketing Officer at social video analytics platform OpenSlate. She previously was the SVP of Integrated Marketing at Turner Broadcasting.
Brian McAndrews is leaving his role as Chairman, President and CEO of Pandora to pursue other opportunities. His role will be divided among three people. Founder Tim Westergren, will take over as CEO. Independent board member Jim Feuille will be the Chairman of the Board. CFO Mike Herring will also now be the company’s President.
Deborah Henderson has been named the General Counsel and Head of Production at Insurrection Media. In her new role she will launch and supervise Insurrection Media’s digital video production unit. Previously she served as General Counsel for Zodiak Americas.
Greg Durkin is now the Chief of Marketing at entertainment research firm Portent.IO. In this new role, Durkin will work alongside co-founder and CEO Hamish Brocklebank and co-founder Uri Grodzinski. Portent.IO is currently working with two studios across the marketing of both theatrical and home entertainment properties. He was formerly the SVP of Marketing Analytics at Warner Bros.
Niki Kazakos has been named the Unit Publicist at Chelsea (as of April 4th, 2016). She was formerly a Senior Publicist at Access Hollywood.
Kellyn Parker has been upped from Executive Producer to the VP, Partner Content at Funny or Die. Brian Toombs has been upped from Director of Strategy to the VP of Partner Content at Funny or Die.