Lionsgate Promotes Shaun Barber to EVP of Domestic Theatrical Distribution

The 18-year industry veteran will also serve as the general sales manager of the division

Lionsgate has promoted Shaun Barber to executive VP and general sales manager of domestic theatrical distribution, it was announced Tuesday by Lionsgate Motion Picture Group domestic theatrical distribution co-presidents Richie Fay and David Spitz.

The 18-year industry veteran’s promotion comes as Lionsgate continues to expand its motion picture operations to encompass more than 40 releases annually across multiple film labels.

An eight-year veteran of Lionsgate and predecessor company Summit Entertainment, Barber is part of the team responsible for releasing the global blockbuster “Hunger Games” and “Divergent” franchises, as well as the worldwide smash “Now You See Me” and hits such as “John Wick,” “Warm Bodies,” “The Age of Adaline” and Pantelion Films’ “Instructions Not Included.”

While at Summit, he also played a key role in the release of the global blockbuster “Twilight Saga” franchise and the Oscar-winning “The Hurt Locker.” Barber has been involved in five of the 14 biggest domestic box office opening weekends of all time.

Barber will be responsible for domestic film sales and distribution, including overall distribution strategy for the studio and its nine labels, reporting to Messrs. Fay and Spitz. He will help them shepherd an upcoming slate that includes “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2,” “Now You See Me 2,” “Gods of Egypt,” “Deepwater Horizon,” “The Last Witch Hunter,” the next two films in the “Divergent” series (“Allegiant” and “Ascendant”), “John Wick 2,” “La La Land” and “Power Rangers.”

“At Lionsgate, we mine a deep bench of executive talent that we grow and promote, and Shaun is one of those key leaders who has played an integral role in the distribution of our slate of blockbuster franchises, potential tentpoles, star-driven event films and targeted specialty releases,” Fay and Spitz said in a joint statement. “His strategic vision, innovation and strong relationships with our theatrical exhibition partners will enable him to help maximize the performance of our growing film slate and capitalize on distribution opportunities in an evolving marketplace.”

Barber came to Lionsgate after the studio’s acquisition of Summit Entertainment in January 2012. He joined Summit in 2007 from Warner Bros., where he served as branch manager of domestic theatrical distribution. Prior to that, he worked in domestic distribution at 20th Century Fox.

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