Mort Handel, chairman, Marvel Ent., announced that David Maisel has been named chairman, Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige has been named president of production.
Maisel joined Marvel in Dec. 2003. He was responsible for the conception and execution of the company's new film production initiative, including the establishment of the $525 million non-recourse loan facility to finance that strategy.
Feige joined Marvel in 2000 and has been involved in all of Marvel's theatrical productions, including the X-MEN trilogy, SPIDER-MAN 1, 2 and 3 and the FANTASTIC FOUR and its upcoming sequel. He is serving as producer on IRON MAN and THE INCREDIBLE HULK. In his expanded role, Feige will also now creatively oversee Marvel's animated projects for television and DVD, as well as videogames.
Additionally, Marvel Studios has solidified its infrastructure with the recent hiring of a number of seasoned, industry executives. Joining Marvel Studios in senior executive positions are: Tim Connors as evp, business affairs and operations; Ross Fanger as evp, physical production; Michael Brown as svp, marketing; Charlie Davis as svp, post production; Rod Smith as svp, production finance; Elizabeth Lynch as vp of business and legal affairs; and Jean-Claude Boursiquot as director of IT and Studio Technology. Marvel has also promoted Matt Finick to svp, studio finance and corporate development and named Ryan Potter to associate counsel. Both have relocated to Los Angeles from Marvel's New York office. Meanwhile, David Galluzzi, assistant general counsel, based in New York, will also be a key member of the Marvel Studios' business affairs team.
Marvel also announced that Michael Helfant, president/coo, Marvel Studios, is exiting the company to pursue other opportunities.
In addition, Marvel Studios has promoted the following West Coast based staff: Eric Rollman, to evp, animation and television; Ames Kirschen to svp/exec producer, videogames; Craig Kyle to svp, animation; Jeremy Latcham to vp, development and production; Stephen Broussard to creative exec; and Joshua Fine to story editor, animation.
"This exceptional group brings decades of experience to Marvel Studios, and we couldn't be happier to have this team in place as we launch our new studio initiative. Their collective talents, insights and creativity will help Marvel Studios continue to excel as we broaden our activities. With these moves, the build out at Marvel Studios to support all of its exciting new efforts is largely complete," said Handel.
Connors, evp of business affairs and operations, joins Marvel from Technicolor where he served as deputy general counsel for electronic distribution services. Connors also served in business affairs at DreamWorks SKG and as a business development consultant for the Tokyo-based media company, Kadokawa Group Holdings.
Fanger, evp of physical production, is a co-producer on THE FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER and previously worked as a co-producer for 20th Century Fox on such films as X-MEN, X-MEN2, X-3: THE LAST STAND and THE FANTASTIC FOUR.
Brown, svp of marketing, joins Marvel after six years as vp of marketing at Regency Enterprises. Brown oversaw marketing for all of New Regency theatrical releases, including MR. AND MRS. SMITH, UNFAITHFUL, DAREDEVIL, BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE and EPIC MOVIE.
Davis, svp of post-production, joins Marvel with 23 years of post-production experience in both studio and independent environments. Davis' previous credits include: X-MEN, FANTASTIC FOUR, the ALIEN/PREDATOR franchises, INDEPENDENCE DAY, FIGHT CLUB, PLANET OF THE APES, and the upcoming FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER and LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD.
Smith, svp of production finance, joins Marvel with over a decade of production accounting experience. At Walt Disney Pictures, Smith oversaw production finance for films including THE GAME PLAN, SANTA CLAUSE 3 and EIGHT BELOW. Previously, he served as svp of production finance at Universal Pictures.
Lynch, vp of legal affairs, joins Marvel from Walt Disney Pictures & Television where she served as executive counsel, legal affairs. Prior to Disney, Lynch represented clients in commercial litigation as an associate at Brown & Wood Llp. in New York City.
Boursiquot, director of IT and studio technology, joins Marvel from Webzen America were he served as the IT/Operations manager. He brings more than nine years of experience working for major corporations such as Atari and Nordstrom in IT management roles.
Finick, promoted to svp, studio finance and corporate development, has been with Marvel Ent. since 2003, most recently serving as a svp of corporate development in the New York office.
More information can be found at www.marvel.com.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
