Open Road Films, the AMC and Regal Entertainment joint venture announced earlier this year, has filled out a big chunk of its executive suite.
Tom Ortenberg, Open Road CEO, announced the first round of executive hires for the company on Wednesday: Jason Cassidy as president of marketing; Elliott Kleinberg as general counsel and executive vice president of operations and business affairs; Steven Andriuzzo as chief financial officer; and Ben Cotner as senior vice president of acquisitions.
As previously announced, Open Road said it will distribute eight to 10 movies per year, the first coming later this year.
Here’s the full release:
Los Angeles, CA, April 13, 2011 — Open Road Films CEO Tom Ortenberg today announced the first round of executive hires for the company including Jason Cassidy in the key role of President of Marketing. In addition, Ortenberg named Elliott Kleinberg General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Operations and Business Affairs; Steven Andriuzzo, Chief Financial Officer; and Ben Cotner as Senior Vice President of Acquisitions.
Said Ortenberg, This group of talented professionals brings an impressive breadth of experience to our new venture and will allow us to hit the ground running. Jason Cassidy is the perfect candidate to help us build new marketing models and convert consumer intent into theatrical attendance. Elliott Kleinberg has a terrific understanding of the motion picture business that will aid us in building relationships between Open Road and the rest of the entertainment community.
Steven Andriuzzo's expertise in motion picture finance and home entertainment specifically will be of great benefit to us. Additionally, we are fortunate to have been able to attract a rising star in the acquisition community, Ben Cotner, to help us identify and attract the kinds of movies we are looking for as we build Open Road Films.
Cassidy said I am absolutely thrilled to join Tom and the rest of the Open Road team at the outset of this innovative venture. The sky is the limit and I’m truly excited to be part of a new distribution model."
Founded earlier this year by AMC Entertainment Inc. (AMC) and Regal Entertainment Group (Regal), the two largest theatrical exhibition and entertainment companies in the United States, Open Road Films is a dynamic, acquisition-based domestic theatrical distribution company.
As previously announced the company will distribute approximately eight to ten movies per year and expects to release its first film later in 2011. Additional key executive hires are expected to be announced in the near future.
Jason Cassidy most recently served as Executive Vice President of Worldwide Marketing at Miramax Films, where he began work in 1999. He spearheaded campaigns for over 100 movies at Miramax including No Country For Old Men, Gangs of New York, Chicago, The Queen, Kill Bill Vols. 1 and 2 and Adventureland. Prior to his career at Miramax, Cassidy was Director of Marketing at USA Films. He started his film industry career at October Films.
Prior to joining Open Road Films, Elliott Kleinberg served as Chief Operating Officer of United Artists, where he was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the company, and oversaw all aspects of the financing, distribution and exploitation of company product, business and legal affairs, human resources and investor, shareholder and lender relations. Before his tenure at United Artists, Kleinberg was a partner at the law firm of Kleinberg Lopez Lange Cuddy Edel & Klein.
Steven Andriuzzo joins Open Road Films from Paramount Pictures, where he served as Senior Vice President of Planning and Finance for the Domestic Home Entertainment division. Before joining Paramount, Andriuzzo spent several years with DreamWorks LLC where he served as Head of Corporate Finance and Motion Picture Group Controller. He also played a key financial role in IPO of DreamWorks Animation.
Before joining Open Road Films, Ben Cotner was Executive Director of Acquisitions & Co-Productions at Paramount Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group, where he acquired domestic-anchored films for Paramount Pictures and all affiliated labels including Vantage, Insurge and MTV Films. Previously Ben worked in various acquisitions roles at Paramount Vantage and Paramount Classics.
