VIZ Media Llc. Has relocated its European operations from Amsterdam to Paris. The new European company will be called VIZ Media Europe, S.A.R.L (VME) and officially opens on Jan. 15, 2007. John Easum has been appointed president/gérant of VME and will oversee all of VIZ Media's European, Middle Eastern and African operations from Paris.
Easum will be charged with growing VME into a dominant player in the rapidly expanding European manga and anime markets. Previously evp of VIZ Media, supervising its North American sales and marketing operations. Easum has lived and worked in France, speaks fluent French and Japanese, and has extensive media business and management expertise. He aims to increase VME's market share and raise visibility and awareness of Japanese content across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Easum said, "Over the years, VIZ Media has enjoyed close relationships with many key partners in Europe. By having a stronger local presence and infrastructure based in Paris, we look forward to nurturing these relationships while also strengthening the bridge between our Japanese and North American counterparts. Anime and manga are now truly a global enterprise and VIZ Media and VME look forward to bringing the best content to its fans through multiple distribution platforms."
VIZ Media Europe handles some of the most popular manga and animation properties from VIZ Media's parent companies, Shueisha Inc. and Shogakukan Inc., the largest publishing houses in Japan, and ShoPro (Japan). The company offers a diverse cross section of both shonen manga, aimed at male audiences, and shôjo manga, aimed primarily at female readers. Current VME manga properties include BLEACH, KEKKAISHI, DEATH NOTE, and M.A.R., while animated properties include BLEACH, M.A.R, ZOIDS GENESIS and HONEY & CLOVER.
Headquartered in San Francisco, VIZ Media Llc. (www.VIZ.com) is one of the leading companies in the field of manga publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan's largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc. and Shogakukan Prod. Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English-speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs, audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages.
