Michael Wright is stepping down as CEO of Amblin Partners to become an executive producer on two of the production company’s upcoming films, Amblin announced in a Tuesday statement.
Legendary director and Amblin Chairman Steven Spielberg will take over as CEO. Jeff Small will retain his president and co-CEO title and will oversee operations alongside Spielberg. Production President Holly Bario will also continue in her role in charge of Amblin’s film business, while Amblin Television Co-Presidents Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey will remain in their positions overseeing TV development and production.
At Amblin, Wright oversaw films including “The Girl on the Train” and “A Dog’s Purpose” as well as the development of “”The House with the Clock in its Walls.”
Chinese mega-conglomerate Alibaba acquired a minority stake in Amblin in October, and its marketing might helped propel “A Dog’s Purpose” to a healthy $88 million in the Middle Kingdom.
“I have always enjoyed working with Michael and the unique creative collaboration we’ve shared going back to his days at Turner Broadcasting,” Spielberg said in a statement. “I am very pleased to continue our relationship and that he is joining our upcoming projects, ‘The Talisman’ and ‘The Wand,’ as an executive producer. I also want to express my gratitude to Michael for helping us launch our company and creating a strong foundation to build on in the future.”