Studios, Networks, Conglomerates
Universal Pictures has tapped Michael Wise as SVP and Chief Technology Officer. Wise will oversee tech strategies and operations for the studio, working with SVP-CIO Steve Lapinski to handle IT issues for the film group.
The MPAA has hired Dean Marks as Deputy General Counsel for its war on piracy. The studio lobby group said Marks will be taking over as EVP, Deputy General Counsel and Chief of Global Content Protection this winter. The move by the Warner Bros. Longtime executive Michael Robinson will be retiring in March.
Jasmine Madatian is now Executive Vice President, Communications, at DreamWorks Studios. Previously Madatian served as Managing Director, Communications, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences/Oscars. She’s taking over for Chip Sullivan, former head of publicity who was promoted to head of global brand integration at DreamWorks Animation this fall.
Film
David S. Goyer is growing his film and TV production company Phantom Four. He’s hired Kevin Turen as president. Turen’s background is with independent films like A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints, Arbitrage, last year’s Robert Redford-starrer All Is Lost and, most recently, the film 99 Homes. Margaret O'Brien has been appointed to the newly created position of EVP Corporate Development at eOne. She will beresponsible for overseeing the company's M&A activities. O'Brien joined eOne in 2008.
3AM, the new consultancy venture between Ridley Scott’s RSA Films and theatrical advertising agency Wild Card, has hired Chris Eyerman as Creative Director. He will be responsible for spearheading content strategy and creative for the new company, and will report to Managing Partners Alison Temple and Jules Daly.
Television
E!’s head of digital John Najarian is now EVP, News and Digital for the network, taking on oversight of the News division and E! News series. He will continue to lead E!’s digital and business development. Najarian takes over the E! News duties of network vet Cyndi McClellan, President of Network Strategy & E! News.
E! head of marketing Jen Neal has been named EVP, Marketing for E! Entertainment and Esquire Network, adding oversight of brand strategy and marketing for Esquire Network to her existing responsibilities.
Tony Maxwell has been tapped as Senior Vice President, Promotional Creative & Strategy at Nickelodeon Group. Previously he served as Senior Vice President, Promotional Strategy & Creative, VH1, VH1 Classic and Palladia.
Digital
Soon after Evan Shapiro left as Pivot president in a management shakeup at Participant Media's startup network, he is moving to NBCUniversal as EVP Digital Enterprises. The newly created position involves companywide strategic development of digital opportunities to reach emerging audiences, including alternative platforms and direct to consumer distribution models.
Andy Forssell is now Chief Executive Officer at Showyou in San Francisco. Previously Forssell served as Acting Chief Executive Officer, Hulu.
Ken Tucker, one of the founding editors of Time Inc.’s Entertainment Weekly, will join Yahoo as TV critic. Previously, he was editor-at-large for Entertainment Weekly and was the magazine’s DVD critic. Agencies, Management Companies, Marketing, Public Relations, Law Firms PromaxBDA, the leading global association for marketing, promotion and design professionals in the entertainment industry, has announced that the company's former board member Steve Kazanjian has been named president and CEO. Kazanjian is a Fortune 500 brand marketing executive and former vice president of Global Creative for MWV, a worldwide leader in consumer packaging.
Music
Live Nation Entertainment has named music vet Jimmy Iovine to the concert promoter's board of directors. Iovine serves as an independent director of the board.