Industry Veteran Brings More than Three Decades of Global
Entertainment Experience to the Studio
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA) today announced the appointment of Jim
Gianopulos as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Paramount
Pictures, effective April 3, 2017. Gianopulos will report directly to
Bob Bakish, President and Chief Executive Officer of Viacom.
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Jim Gianopulos (Photo: Business Wire)
In his role as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Paramount,
Gianopulos will oversee the studio's film and television operations
worldwide, including production, marketing, distribution and all other
facets. He also will be charged with setting a new strategy for
Paramount, including developing new content, strengthening Paramount's
slate with co-branded releases from Viacom flagship brands, and
expanding the studio's global footprint.
Bob Bakish, said, "Jim is a remarkably talented executive with all the
tools - strategic vision, strong business expertise, deep industry and
creative relationships - to bring films to life that resonate throughout
culture and deliver commercial results. I'm thrilled we will have the
benefit of his experience, savvy and global expertise as we lay out a
clear path forward and begin the next chapter in Paramount's storied
history."
Jim Gianopulos said, "Paramount is one of Hollywood's truly iconic
studios, and the role it has played in shaping the entertainment
industry cannot be overstated. Looking ahead, I see a strong opportunity
to position the studio for success by creating valuable franchise
opportunities, developing fresh creative ventures, and mining Viacom's
deep brand portfolio to bring exciting new narratives to life. I am
eager to get to work with Bob and the rest of the Viacom and Paramount
teams to ensure Paramount continues to deliver rich, powerful films and
television programming for all audiences."
Gianopulos has been a leading figure in the global entertainment
industry for more than 30 years. For 16 years, he served as Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of Fox Filmed Entertainment, overseeing
Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox
International Productions, and Twentieth Century Fox Animation/Blue Sky
Studios. During his tenure, he oversaw numerous box office hits, ranging
from "Avatar" and the "X-Men" series, to "The Descendants" and "The
Grand Budapest Hotel," and most recently "Deadpool" and "Hidden Figures."
Previously, Gianopulos served as President of 20th Century Fox
International. Prior to joining the company, he held senior positions at
Columbia Pictures and Paramount. He began his career as an attorney
specializing in entertainment law. Gianopulos is Treasurer of the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, Chairman of the Motion
Picture & Television Fund, and a Trustee of Carnegie Melon University
and the American Film Institute. He also serves on the USC School of
Cinematic Arts Board of Councilors.
Gianopulos attended the LLM program at the New York University School of
Law and received his JD from Fordham University School of Law. He
received his undergraduate degree from Boston University.
About Viacom
Viacom is home to premier global media brands that create compelling
television programs, motion pictures, short-form content, apps, games,
consumer products, social media experiences, and other entertainment
content for audiences in more than 180 countries. Viacom's media
networks, including Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, Spike, BET,
CMT, TV Land, Nick at Nite, Nick Jr., Logo, Nicktoons, TeenNick, Channel
5 (UK), Telefe (Argentina) and Paramount Channel, reach over 3.9 billion
cumulative television subscribers worldwide. Paramount Pictures is a
major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment.
For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com.
Keep up with Viacom news by following Viacom's blog at blog.viacom.com
and Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/viacom.
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Media
Viacom Inc.
Jeremy Zweig, 212-846-7503
jeremy@viacom.com
or
Finsbury,
on behalf of Viacom
Sara Evans, 646-805-2066
sara.evans@finsbury.com
or
Paramount
Pictures Corporation
Katie Martin Kelley, 323-956-2821
kmk@paramount.com
Source: Viacom Inc.
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