Prakash previously was COO at Focus Features and an exec VP at Universal.
Abhijay Prakash has been named chief operating officer of DreamWorks Animation.
GLENDALE, CALIF. -- DreamWorks Feature Animation announced that Focus Features COO and Universal Pictures veteran Abhijay Prakash has been named Chief Operating Officer.
In this role, he will be responsible for the studio’s strategic planning and primary business operations, including finance, business development, technology and administrative functions. The appointment was made by DreamWorks Animation Group President Chris deFaria.
In addition to his other responsibilities as COO, Prakash will also serve as a vital bridge between DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures. The first DreamWorks feature released by Universal Pictures will be on March 1, 2019 with How to Train Your Dragon 3, the much-anticipated culmination of the critically acclaimed global box office success. There are five other movies in production at DreamWorks. The appointment will be effective in the coming weeks, with Prakash providing transition support to Focus Features until the end of the year and awards season.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Chris and the leadership team at DreamWorks and look forward to this opportunity to grow the business during such an exciting time at the studio,” said Prakash. “I want to thank my long-time friends and colleagues, Peter Kujawski and Robert Walak, as well as the exceptional Focus team. I take an enormous amount of pride in all of our accomplishments over the last couple of years and take on this new role knowing how well-positioned Focus is for continued success.”
Prakash most recently served as Chief Operating Officer for Focus Features, responsible for Finance, Strategy, Business Affairs, Physical Production, Distribution and Operations. Before that, he served as Executive Vice President, Film Strategy & Operations at Universal, overseeing a team responsible for key strategic initiatives while also supporting operations related to studio slate planning, greenlighting, marketing optimization and film financing across the studio’s various product lines. Prior to Universal, he worked at the Boston Consulting Group and also held other positions in media and worked as a public policy researcher.
Source: DreamWorks Animation
Tom McLean has been writing for years about animation from a secret base in Los Angeles.
