Former Warner Bros. and Sony executive John D. Calkins has joined AMC Theatres as president of programming, the chain said Monday.
Calkins’ focus will be on extending the exhibition chain’s partnerships with Hollywood studios and other entertainment companies. He will be based in Los Angeles, and will work alongside Robert J. Lenihan, who joined AMC in 2008. Both will share the title of president, AMC programming. Lenihan will also continue to lead AMC’s film buying and day-to-day programming operations.
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Calkins joins AMC with a background as executive vice president of digital distribution and commercial innovation at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and sr. vice-president of corporate development at Warner Bros. He most recently was a vice-president and senior partner at IBM, focused on delivering technology-enabled business transformation to media and communications clients.
“After 20 years working across the movie business, I’m excited to join exhibition,” said Calkins. “AMC Theatres is driving innovations that make moviegoing more popular and moviemaking more profitable.”