Todd Miller has been tapped to lead Celestial Tiger Entertainment (CTE), the Asian media company launched last month by Celestial Pictures Limited, Saban Capital Group and Lionsgate.
Miller will serve as president and chief operating officer, the joint venture's backers announced Wednesday.
“Todd's experience, achievements and relationships in Asia and beyond is exactly the leadership we are looking for to help realize our goals for Celestial Tiger Entertainment,” Adam Chesnoff, president and chief operating officer of Saban Capital Group and chairman of CTE's board, said in a statement.
The company, which boasts a $30 million investment from Saban, also announced the members of its Board of Directors, a group that includes Jon Feltheimer, Lionsgate's co-chairman and chief executive officer, and Saban Capital Group director Sumeet Jaisinghani.
The new entity will operate as an independent Asian media company, expanding into production and multi-platform distribution in the coming months. Lionsgate and Celestial will provide much of the content.
In Miller, CTE has found an executive with extensive experience in the burgeoning Asian market. He joins CTE on the heels of a 17-year stint in Asia at Sony Pictures Television where he served most recently as executive vice president, networks, Asia-Pacific.
At Sony, Miller oversaw and managed Sony’s television networks and channel investments across the region and handled the licensing and local production businesses.
In addition to Miller, CTE rolled out the members of the company's senior management. Ed Stansfield will serve as chief financial officer and senior vice president, business development. He previously created and operated two video on demand TV networks.
Ofanny Choi has been promoted to executive vice president, TV networks, and will lead CTE’s programming, acquisitions, marketing, operations and distribution. Choi has previously managed and operated Chinese channels at both Celestial Pictures and Star TV.
Wendy Reeds has been tapped as executive vice president, content sales and distribution. Reeds joins CTE from Lionsgate’s international home entertainment sales division.
CTE also announced the appointment of its board of directors with representatives from Saban Capital Group, Celestial Pictures and Lionsgate. In addition to Feltheimer and Jaisinghani, the board will consist of Ralph Marshall, executive deputy chairman and group chief executive officer of Astro Holdings Sdn Bhd; Ross Pollack, chief executive officer of Celestial Pictures Limited; and Niveen Tadros, executive vice president and general counsel of Saban Capital Group.
In addition, the company announced today that founding partner and chief executive officer of Tiger Gate Entertainment William Pfeiffer will assume a senior advisory role to the management team of CTE.
