Studios, Networks, Conglomerates
Sony Pictures confirmed that longtime studio chief Amy Pascal will be stepping down from her post. Pascal, who has been at Sony since 1988, will launch a major new production venture based on the Culver City lot. The Walt Disney Co. named Thomas O. Staggs to the post of chief operating officer. This makes the parks chief the number two executive at the world's largest entertainment company. Zodiak Americas’ Jonny Slow has stepped down from his role as CEO. Previously COO of Zodiak Media, Slow oversaw the creation of Zodiak Americas in 2012 and the reorganization of its activities to best serve the needs of Zodiak's non-U.S. production companies. He will work with Zodiak on a consultancy basis with Marc-Antoine d'Halluin, CEO of Zodiak Media, who takes on the role on an interim basis. Distribution and exhibition vet Steve Bunnell (previously Cinemark Theatres’ EVP of Global Content Programming) has been named Senior Vice President, Assistant General Sales Manager at Universal’s domestic theatrical distribution division. He will report to Nicholas Carpou, Universal’s President of Domestic Distribution.
Television
New BBC America president Sarah Barnett has hired her top lieutenant at SundanceTV, Nena Rodrigue. Rodrigue will be EVP, Original Programming, Acquisitions and Production for BBC America, a newly created position. She will oversee all of BBC America's development, original productions, co-productions, and acquisitions. ITV Studios America has tapped Lucienne Papon as SVP Scripted Television. Papon joins from Martin Campbell Productions, where she helped launch the company’s ABC Studios-based TV division. She will oversee development of ITV Studios America’s scripted slate and execution of its programs.
Digital
ITV Studios America has tapped Bruce Gersh for the newly created position of EVP & Head of Digital, Strategy and Branded Entertainment. Gersh will focus on maximizing opportunities for brand expansions and revenue streams for ITV’s content.
Management, PR, Music
Former CAA employee Ben Dogra is now the co-CEO of the football division at Relativity Sports, a division of global media company Relativity Media.
Peter Van Steemburg, previously VP Acquisitions at Magnolia Pictures, has joined ICM Partners' international and independent department. His time at Magnolia and Magnet Releasing began in 2008, and he worked on the negotiation of films including Nymphomaniac, Goon, and John Dies At The End.