SANTA MONICA, Calif. and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 11, 2014 /CNW/ -- In a move reflecting the continued growth and evolution of its film business, Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a premier next generation global content leader, has promoted 11-year veteran Sean Kisker to the newly-created position of Chief Strategy Officer and General Manager of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. The announcement was made by Lionsgate Co-Chief Operating Officer and Motion Picture Group President Steve Beeks, to whom Mr. Kisker will continue to report.
In his new capacity, Mr. Kisker also becomes a key member of the Company's franchise management team headed by Lionsgate Chief Marketing Officer Tim Palen.
"Sean's financial acumen, strategic insight and planning skills have helped provide a foundation for our Motion Picture Group's evolution into a diversified global operation that releases over 30 films a year on multiple labels and generates more than $2 billion annually at the worldwide box office," said Mr. Beeks. "His promotion reflects not only his track record of accomplishment but the tremendous opportunities we see for the continued growth of our motion picture business around the world, and his strategic planning initiatives will help us continue extending our long-term visibility."
"Sean is an entrepreneurial and forward-looking executive well qualified to help position our motion picture business at the cutting edge of innovation, and he will play an expanded role in collaborating with other members of our executive team to create exciting new opportunities for our brands and franchises in the years to come," said Lionsgate Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer.
Mr. Kisker previously served as General Manager of the Motion Picture Group, overseeing film financing and partnerships, financial transactions within the Company's motion picture business, strategic investments and slate planning. Prior to that, he was Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning & Operations, structuring more than $750 million in film partnerships and financing arrangements as well as helping to oversee Lionsgate's output and co-financing agreements with partners such as Lakeshore Entertainment, OddLot Entertainment and Participant Media.
Mr. Kisker has overseen a number of initiatives within the Company's Motion Picture Group, including the 2011 launch of Lionsgate's micro-budget film division. He was named one of Hollywood's New Leaders by Variety in 2011.
A graduate of Dartmouth College, he began his career with the investment banking firm Robertson Stephens.
ABOUT LIONSGATE
Lionsgate is a premier next generation global content leader with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, digital distribution, channel platforms and international distribution and sales. The Company currently has more than 30 television shows on over 20 different networks spanning its primetime production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as the multiple Emmy Award-winning Mad Men and Nurse Jackie, the comedy Anger Management, the broadcast network series Nashville, the syndication success The Wendy Williams Show and the critically-acclaimed hit series Orange is the New Black.
Its feature film business has been fueled by such recent successes as the blockbuster first three installments of The Hunger Games franchise, the first installment of the Divergent franchise, Now You See Me, John Wick, Warm Bodies, Roadside Attractions' A Most Wanted Man, Lionsgate/Codeblack Films' Addicted and Pantelion Films' Instructions Not Included, the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S.
Lionsgate's home entertainment business is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rates. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 16,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate and Summit brands remain synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.www.lionsgate.com
For further information, please contact:
Peter D. Wilkes
Lionsgate
310-255-3726
pwilkes@lionsgate.com
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SOURCE Lionsgate
