Toby Emmerich Replaces Greg Silverman as Warner Bros. President

Emmerich steps into longtime executive’s job on January 1

greg silverman toby emmerich
Toby Emmerich, Greg Silverman (Getty Images)

Greg Silverman has stepped down as President and Chief Content Officer of Warner Bros. Pictures, it was announced Wednesday. He’ll be replaced by Toby Emmerich as of January 1.

Silverman was named to the top job in June 2013, which gave him full oversight of the studio — including development, physical production and budgets. He was the direct report of Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara.

Silverman will open his own independent production and “entrepreneurial ventures” company that will work with Warner Bros, the studio said.

Emmerich has held a President and COO title at New Line Cinema since 2008, which he’ll retain along with Silverman’s duties. Warners also noes that Emmerich will share greenlight power with Tsujihara, and Sue Kroll will remain president of worldwide marketing and distribution.

“He has great relationships across the creative spectrum, from writers and producers to directors and actors. He’s also got a track-record of producing hit films from all genres at every budget,”Tsujihara said in a statement. “I look forward to working with him in his expanded role in our Pictures Group.”

More to come. Read the full studio release:

Toby Emmerich has been named President and Chief Content Officer, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, with creative oversight of both Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema, it was announced today by Kevin Tsujihara, Chairman and CEO, Warner Bros., to whom Emmerich will continue to report.  Concurrent to Emmerich’s promotion, Greg Silverman, who serves as President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, Warner Bros. Pictures, is stepping down to launch an independent production and entrepreneurial ventures company working with Warner Bros.   These changes are effective January 1, 2017.

“Toby is incredibly talented, well-respected and the perfect choice to help us continue the momentum of our film operations,” said Tsujihara. “He has great relationships across the creative spectrum, from writers and producers to directors and actors. He’s also got a track-record of producing hit films from all genres at every budget. I look forward to working with him in his expanded role in our Pictures Group.”

Worldwide marketing and distribution for Warner Bros. Pictures Group releases will continue to be headed by Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and Distribution. She’ll continue to work closely with Emmerich to deliver successful results for all of the Studio’s films.

In his new role, Emmerich will share green-light authority with Tsujihara to determine which projects are ultimately made by Warner Bros. Pictures Group’s production entities.

“I want to thank Kevin for this amazing opportunity,” said Emmerich. “Between Warner Bros. and New Line, we really do have the most diverse slate in the industry, and we’re having great success in all of the genres in which we’re producing. Between the two companies, we also have the most creative, most talented executive corps. I look forward to continuing my partnership with the incredibly talented Sue Kroll, and I couldn’t be more excited about the future.”

Emmerich will also continue to steer Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, the live stage play division of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which is bringing a new production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” to Broadway in March 2017.

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