Saban Capital Group Inc. (SCG), the private investment firm of Haim Saban, has named Joel Andryc chief creative officer of a new entertainment division, Saban Entertainment Group. Andryc will heading the creative component of Saban's entertainment investment portfolio, Andryc will lead the company's creative evaluation of new strategic opportunities, including the creation, development and acquisition of start-up ventures.
Andryc, a veteran of the entertainment industry, also serves as a programming consultant for Saban-owned ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, a position he has held since November 2003. Prior to that, he spent six years as evp, Programming and Development at ABC/Fox Family Channel. Andryc will be based in Los Angeles and report directly to SDG chairman/ceo Haim Saban and president/coo Adam Chesnoff.
"We're pleased to enhance our focus on the creative side of the business, and I'm thrilled Joel will be leading us in that effort, Saban commented. Having worked with Joel for so many years, I am confident in his programming and creative talents. He will be a major asset to Saban Capital and its entertainment investments."
Chesnoff said, "We will continue to pursue new and exciting opportunities that make strong financial sense, while maximizing our investments through creative applications and innovative ideas. Our existing investments stand to benefit greatly from Joel's creative expertise and contacts in the Hollywood community. His advice will also be invaluable in the evaluation of new business initiatives."
From my 15 years working alongside Haim, Andryc said, I'm keenly aware of his business acumen and his ability to find one-of-a-kind opportunities in a very competitive environment. Thanks to SCG's strong management team and its ample resources, Saban Ent. Group has the ability to target significant strategic investments in the entertainment sector. I'm particularly excited to be back at a firm with a true entrepreneurial spirit where creativity thrives and ideas move quickly through the pipeline."
Andryc continued, "The offer from Haim to fund new development, incubate talent, acquire and invest in start-up ventures with huge upside potential, and help build his existing entertainment holdings is a rare opportunity that I could not pass up."
As evp, Programming and Development at ABC Family Channel, Andryc oversaw primetime reality series, specials, concerts and repurposed ABC network programming for the channel. Andryc's leadership played a key role in establishing ABC Family Channel as a destination for teens and young adults.
Prior to ABC Family, Andryc served in a similar role at Fox Family Channel and laid the foundation in establishing the network as a destination for tweens, teens and a young adult audience, launching such original programming as ANGELA ANACONDA, BRACEFACE, a series exec produced by and featuring Alicia Silverstone; and SO LITTLE TIME, starring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. In addition to programming at Fox Family, Andryc also oversaw the programming and development of The Fox Kids Network, securing high-profile talent to drive the Fox Kids lineup and maintain Fox Kids as the #1 destination for boys action and adventure. Andryc launched the phenomenon DIGIMON: DIGITAL MONSTERS and maintained the popularity of the POWER RANGERS brand and franchise.
Prior to joining Fox Family, Andryc worked for Saban Ent. where he began in 1987 as a development exec and contributed to the company's unprecedented growth and expansion.
SCG is a private investment firm specializing in the media and entertainment industries. Based in Los Angeles, SCG was established in 2001 by Saban, founder of Saban Ent., a global television broadcasting, production, distribution, merchandising and music company that was sold to the Walt Disney Corp. in October 2001 in a $5.2 billion transaction. The firm makes both controlling and minority investments in public and private companies and adds strategic value through its established relationships and industry experience. In addition, SCG owns and operates a music company, Saban Music Group, which operates an independent music-publishing company.
