SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sept. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LIONSGATE , the leading next generation studio, announced today that David Spitz, Executive Vice President and General Sales Manager, has agreed to a new long-term contract with the studio. Spitz will report to Joe Drake, Lionsgate President, Motion Picture Group, and Co-Chief Operating Officer, who made the announcement.
Said Drake, "David is a natural leader and savvy distribution strategist, and he''s played a critical role in bringing Lionsgate to new levels of audience awareness and financial success. As we continue to expand our feature film slate, David''s expertise and depth of understanding will give us a tremendous competitive advantage when it comes to maximizing the potential of every one of our titles. We are proud and happy to have him as a member of the Lionsgate family."
Said Spitz, "Lionsgate is a wonderful studio to call home, and I''m looking forward to the busy, exciting days that lie ahead. While we mourn the untimely death of our dear friend and colleague, Steve Rothenberg, we are pledged to furthering his legacy of professional integrity, creative agility and savvy opportunism on behalf of our films."
Spitz is a 13-year veteran of Lionsgate and its predecessor companies, and was promoted to his current position in 2007. During his tenure with Lionsgate and its predecessors, Spitz has made important contributions to the successful distribution of such hits as the SAW franchise, the most successful long-term horror franchise in history with grosses exceeding $667 million in worldwide box office; the Tyler Perry franchise, which has grossed nearly $370 million in domestic box office; CRASH; FAHRENHEIT 9/11; and the independent blockbuster phenomenon THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. Other successes include the smash horror/thrillers MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D and THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT; action hits such as FORBIDDEN KINGDOM, RAMBO, THE BANK JOB, the critically-acclaimed 3:10 TO YUMA and CRANK; the documentary hit RELIGULOUS; and the teen comedies GOOD LUCK CHUCK and EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.
Spitz began his entertainment industry career as a film buyer for Mann Theaters. He served two years as a regional branch manager for MGM Distribution, which as followed by a position as Western Division Manager at LIVE Entertainment. Spitz joined Lionsgate predecessor Artisan Entertainment in 1997, and held a series of progressively responsible executive positions at Artisan and Lionsgate, including Senior Vice President of Domestic Distribution.
ABOUT LIONSGATE
Lionsgate is the leading next generation studio with a strong and diversified presence in the production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, video-on-demand and digitally delivered content. The Company has built a strong television presence in production of prime time cable and broadcast network series, production, distribution and syndication of programming through Debmar-Mercury, reality programming through its joint venture with ISH Entertainment and an array of channel platforms, including its partnership with One Equity Partners and Allen Shapiro in TV Guide Network and TV Guide.com, its partnership with Viacom and MGM in the multiplatform premium channel Epix, its partnership with Sony and Comcast in the branded horror channel FEARnet and its recent launch of the KIX action channel and the Thrill horror/suspense channel in Asia. Its feature film business achieved a record box office performance in the January-March 2009 quarter, driven by the success of TYLER PERRY''S MADEA GOES TO JAIL," "MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3-D and THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT. The Company''s home entertainment business has grown to more than 7% market share and leads the industry in its box office-to-DVD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 12,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company''s core businesses. The Lionsgate brand remains synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.
http://www.lionsgate.com/ For further information, contact: Sarah Greenberg 310-255-3856 sgreenberg@lionsgate.com For corporate inquiries, please contact: Peter D. Wilkes 310-255-3726 pwilkes@lionsgate.com
Lionsgate
CONTACT: Sarah Greenberg, +1-310-255-3856, sgreenberg@lionsgate.com, or
Peter D. Wilkes, +1-310-255-3726, pwilkes@lionsgate.com, both of Lionsgate
Web Site: http://www.lionsgate.com/
