Exec Moves and Signed Talent - 7/18
This week, which teased mass layoffs from Warner Bros. Discovery and continually shaky soil at Paramount given David Ellison’s plan to make $2 bn in cuts, also saw major shifts across other major studios and streamers.
Here’s who saw greener grass in this current M&A media landscape roller coaster:
Jessie Dicovitsky (IMDBPro) (IMDB)
Former Position - SVP of Original Programming, Showtime & Paramount+
New Position - Head of TV, Higher Ground (Leave the World Behind, Rustin)
Dicovitsky’s credits at Showtime, where she spent over a decade, include:
Halo (2022-)
Billions (2016-2023)
Shameless (2011-2021)
She stated:
“The Obamas have built a powerful platform to inspire and entertain globally, and I am deeply energized by their cultivation of talent and mission to amplify the best stories and storytellers of our time. I couldn’t be more excited to lead their efforts in building a culture-moving slate to share with the world.”
We look forward to her leading the charge for Higher Ground’s TV department. Thus far, their biggest show has been Bodkin (2024).
Marissa Bostick (LinkedIn)
Former Position - Deputy Director, Counterfeit Crimes Unit, Amazon
New Position - SVP & Head of Global Litigation, MPA
Bostick stated:
“I look forward to applying my previous experience in criminal infringement and civil litigation to address the global threat of digital piracy. Intellectual property rights are the backbone of the creative economy, and I am confident I can make a positive difference for content creators around the world.”
Bostick is a Fullbright scholar and served as assistant to the U.S. attorney in the criminal division of the Southern District of New York.
Natalie Bjelajac (IMDBPro) (IMDB) (LinkedIn)
Former Position - Senior Director Publicity, Netflix
New Position - VP Domestic Publicity, Netflix
Bjelajac led the charge on the publicity for:
Hit Man (2023)
Don’t Look Up (2021)
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
Over 10 years at 20th Century Fox, she worked her way up from Sr. Publicist to VP of domestic publicity on projects like:
The Martian (2015)
Planet of the Apes series (2011 - )
Avatar (2009)
Earlier in her career, she served as a Sr. Publicist and National Publicity at Sony on Casino Royale (2006) and The Da Vinci Code (2006).
There were 14 major executive moves, including a TV star boarding a tech company, shake-ups at Netflix and Amazon, and an executive at the recently shuttered Participant found a prime opportunity.
Former Position - Actor, Full House, Fuller House
New Position - Chief Innovation Officer, Zeam (local news streamer)
Stamos starred in their Super Bowl ad, and was inspired by the company’s mission as he got his start on local news. Stamos will continue to be the public face of the company.
María José Rodríguez (LinkedIn)
Former Position - Head of Spanish Originals, Amazon MGM
New Position - Managing Director, Globomedia
Among the top projects she greenlit:
Reina Roja (Red Queen)
Top 10 most-watched internationally
Operación Triunfo
Spain’s top acquired original
Rodríguez previously worked at Globomedia 1997 - 2007.
Former Position - Director, International Original Film, Netflix
New Position - Director UK original film, Netflix
Moneo oversaw Paolo Sorrentino’s The Hand Of God and JA Bayona’s Society Of The Snow.
Moneo started her career as an EP on Dirty Pretty Things (2002).
In her previous role, Moneo oversaw award-winning non-English-language films, including JA Bayona’s Society Of The Snow and Paolo Sorrentino’s The Hand Of God.
Moneo, now director of UK film, reports to Anne Mensah, vice president of content, along with Mona Qureshi, director of UK series.
Bradley Quirk (IMDBPro) (IMDB)
Former Position - Manager, Netflix UK
New Position - Free Agent
Teresa Moneo took over his role.
Former Position - Storyteller/Producer, E! Television’s Keeping Up with the Kardashians
New Position - Senior Creative, Entropico (Netflix’s OneFour: Against All Odds)
Jang Kyung-ik (IMDBPro) (IMDB)
Former Position - President of Studio, Next Entertainment World (NEW)
New Position - CEO, Studio Dragon (owner: CJ ENM)
Trixie Adjie (IMDBPro) (LinkedIn)
Former Position - Assistant, Global Scripted Television, Sony
New Position - Coordinator, Global Scripted Television, Sony
Ruth Brougham (LinkedIn)
Former Position - Head of Digital Banking, Virgin Money
New Position - Streaming Business Director, Channel 4
Former Position - Vice President, Feature Films, The Safran Company
New Position - Senior Vice President, Motion Picture Group, Miramax
Ela serves as Co-EP of Amazon’s Heads of State, starring John Cena and Jack Quaid.
Sean Hoagland (IMDBPro) (IMDB)
Former Position - Senior Vice President of Television, Anthony Hemingway Productions
New Position - Senior Vice President of Television, Spyglass Media Group
Was:
Former Position - EVP of Global Television, Participant
New Position - President of Global Content, Maria Farinha Films
Kite’s producer credits at the now-shuttered Participant include the upcoming Taika Waititi-directed show Interior Chinatown, which will premiere on Hulu this fall.
She previously worked with Maria Farinha Films on Esperanza, an adventure drama jointly developed with Participant, with award-winning director Fernando Meirelles (The Two Popes, City of God) as co-showrunner.
TALENT SIGNINGS
CAA and Gersh took the cake this week for a number of high-profile talent signings.
Here’s a breakdown:
Cameron Crowe signs w/ CAA
Director: Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous
Upcoming: Joni Mitchell biopic-starring Meryl Streep
Hannah Einbinder signs w/ CAA (for everything non-comedy)
Actress: Hacks
Nominated: two Emmy and two Golden Globe Awards (comedy)
Tyriq Withers signs w/ CAA
Actor: Atlanta, Tell Me Lies
Upcoming Lead Role: Him (Universal/Monkeypaw)
Elsa Majimbo signs w/ Gersh
Social Media star, Chess prodigy, and actress: Lena Waithe’s Tribeca short Bitter Leaf
Jess Hong signs w/ Gersh
Actress: 3 Body Problem
Upcoming: Grafted (indie horror film)
Farhan Akhtar signs w/ Crimson Media & The SB Initiative
Co-Founder: Excel Entertainment (Amazon’s Made in Heaven, Netflix’s Eternally Confused and Eager for Love)
Gaby Hoffmann signs w/ Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment
Actress: Eric, Crystal Fairy and the Magical Cactus
Upcoming: Little Death (Producer: Darren Aronofsky)
Hoffman plays the hyper-aggressive female version of David Schwimmer in Little Death, which premiered at Sundance. It’s astonishingly wonderful to watch how she mimics his mannerisms.
Sadly, that film has not found distribution. Read our cover story on the film here:
https://theindustry.co/p/darren-aronofsky-finds-his-softness