Universal Pictures has fired marketing president Josh Goldstine following an investigation of “inappropriate conduct,” TheWrap has learned.
The executive had been on administrative leave since last month when the studio announced the investigation as well as the dismissal of Seth Byers, an EVP in charge of creative strategy and research, following similar accusations.
A rep for Universal declined to elaborate on the nature of the accusations or the contents of the investigation. Goldstine could not be reached for comment.
In a memo to staff, film division president Donna Langley and chairman Jeff Shell said they had received complaints in early February that they found “credible and indicative of an unacceptable climate.”
“Our highest priority is to provide a working environment where every employee feels heard, seen and safe. We commend the people who have had the courage to come forward. We have no tolerance for harassment or other disrespectful behavior, and we will be taking any necessary steps to ensure that actions that violate our core values are dealt with swiftly and decisively,” the memo continued.
Goldstine had spent two decades at Sony before joining Universal in 2011 as president of domestic marketing; he was promoted in 2014 to oversee worldwide marketing.
In 2001, Sony had suspended Goldstine and a second executive for 30 days without pay after they were found to have invented fictional critics to write gushing poster blurbs for films such as “Hollow Man” and “A Knight’s Tale.”
Deadline first reported the news of Goldstine’s dismissal.