Courtney Simmons Named SVP – Publicity, DC Entertainment at Warner Bros.

Tue, 02/15/2011 - 2:01pm | David Hyde

Courtney Simmons Named SVP – Publicity, DC Entertainment at Warner Bros.

(February 15, 2010) -- Courtney Simmons has been named Senior Vice President of Publicity for DC Entertainment at Warner Bros. Simmons will be based in Burbank and report to John Rood, EVP of Sales, Marketing and Business Development.

In her new role, Simmons will oversee and manage media relations and internal communications for DC Entertainment (DCE) and its executives and be responsible for developing and leading the PR strategy for DC Comics’ portfolio of characters across all media platforms– including key franchises such as Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and The Flash – as well as Vertigo Publishing and MAD Magazine. In addition, she will oversee the New York-based DC Entertainment publicity team.

“Courtney is a well-respected and dynamic media relations executive with a proven track record of extraordinary accomplishment in interactive entertainment and consumer publicity," said Rood. "This is an exciting time at the company as we continue to integrate the DC Comics business, brand and characters throughout Warner Bros. including feature films, video games, television and consumer products. Courtney will work in tandem with our WB colleagues in coordinating communications and publicity across the company and we are thrilled to have her join our senior management team.”

Prior to joining DCE, Simmons was VP of Communications for Disney Interactive Media Group where she oversaw corporate communications, media relations and publicity activities for the interactive entertainment division of The Walt Disney Company. She also served as a communications executive for Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) where she was part of the original PR team that announced the new DC Universe Online video game.

Before SOE she ran media relations and government affairs for The LEGO Group at the LEGOLAND California theme park. Simmons also served as the head of public relations for The Six Flags Theme Park where she led strategic communications and publicity efforts for the Los Angeles-based park.

A longtime advocate for encouraging women toward career paths in the creative and applied arts Simmons was instrumental in creating the G.I.R.L. Scholarship Program that awards college scholarships to women who are looking for careers in the development and production of interactive media. Simmons sits on the Advisory Board of the International Center for the History of Electronic Games at the Strong Museum of Play in New York and was named Top 10 Most Influential Women of MMOs by Beckett Massive Online Gamer in 2009.

She resides in Studio City, CA with her family.

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Amit Desai Named SVP – Franchise Management, DC Entertainment

Fri, 12/03/2010 - 2:00pm | David Hyde

Amit Desai Named SVP – Franchise Management, DC Entertainment

(December 3, 2010) Amit Desai has been named Senior Vice President, Franchise Management for DC Entertainment at Warner Bros. The announcement was made today by John Rood, EVP of Sales, Marketing and Business Development. Desai will be based in Burbank and report directly to John Rood.

“Amit is coming to DC Entertainment with a proven track record in building brands both inside and outside Warner Bros.,” said Rood. “That he’s already well-versed in our characters and brands from his experience working on the DC Universe animation business is an added bonus.“

In his new role, Desai will develop and implement the individual franchise plans for Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash, MAD Magazine, Vertigo titles, and other DC properties. This will include driving wider cross-promotional support across all Time Warner divisions.

Amit Desai joined Warner Bros. in 2004. Most recently, he was responsible for Warner Home Video’s non-theatrical family and animation business. During his tenure with Warner Home Video, Desai helped grow non-theatrical family & animation revenue +45% and secured #1 studio market share position for first time in business history. Among his accomplishments, Desai is credited with the launch of new franchises such as DC Universe – a series of animated original movies inspired by DC Comics graphic novels.

Desai came to Warner Bros. from the Walt Disney Company where he was responsible for brand management and marketing/synergy activities on behalf of feature films. Prior to Disney, Desai also served in marketing roles at Nestle and American Express.

Desai is a native Californian and was raised in Santa Barbara. He earned a B.A. in Economics and History from UC Berkeley, and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School. Desai resides in Pasadena with his wife and daughter.

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Nairi Gardiner Named SVP, Finance, WBCP and DC Entertainment

Thu, 10/28/2010 - 9:05am | David Hyde

Nairi Gardiner Named SVP, Finance, WBCP and DC Entertainment

(October 28, 2010) Nairi Gardiner has been named Senior Vice President, Finance, WBCP and DC Entertainment, it was announced today by DCE President Diane Nelson. In her new role, Gardiner will oversee the finance function for the company, that includes: strategic , business and financial planning as well as reporting. She will be based in Burbank and report directly to Nelson.

“Nairi is a consummate professional, whose personal integrity matches her stellar credentials,” said Nelson. “I've known her personally and professionally for years and could not be more delighted for her to join DC Entertainment.”

Since 2000, Gardiner has served as Senior Vice President of Finance & Operations for Warner Bros. Consumer Products, where she is also responsible for strategic planning, reporting and financial operations .Gardiner will continue in her current role as SVP, Finance & Operations for WBCP, reporting to Brad Globe, President WW Consumer Products.

Gardiner joined WBCP in 1990 as Controller. Within four years, she was promoted to Vice President and Group Controller, broadening her duties to include supervision and management of corporate accounting for International and Domestic Theatrical Distribution. In 1997, she became Vice President, Finance for WBCP where she was responsible for financial planning, reporting, credit & collections and had management and oversight of WBCP’s international finance functions.

Before joining WBCP, Gardiner held management positions at Micropolis Corporation and the prestigious accounting firm, Price Waterhouse. She has an MBA from UCLA and a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Stanford University.

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Bob Wayne Named SVP, Sales DC Comics

Tue, 10/12/2010 - 4:00pm | David Hyde

(October 18, 2010) Bob Wayne has been named Senior Vice President, Sales of DC Comics, it was announced at New York ComicCon by John Rood, EVP Sales, Marketing, and Business Development, DC Entertainment. Wayne will continue to oversee sales distribution for DC Comics in the direct market and bookstores, and in his new role will and will now oversee digital sales and all international distribution. He will be based in New York and report directly to John Rood.

“Bob Wayne's dedication to the direct market is boundless and he's been an instrumental, guiding force in DC Comics' growth in traditional bookstores,” said Rood. “Bob has a stellar reputation with our partners in the retail community and I look forward to watching his—and the company's-- expanded influence internationally on all platforms.”

Bob Wayne joined DC Comics as Retail Promotions Manager in 1987. He was promoted to Vice President, Direct Sales in 1998. He was honored with an Inkpot Award in 2009 at Comic-Con International: San Diego.

Prior to joining DC, Wayne operated a chain of comics and science fiction stores in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

He is the co-author of the DC comic book series Time Masters.

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bob wayne, dan didio, dc comics, dc entertainment, jim lee, john rood

Hank Kanalz Named SVP, Digital – DC Entertainment

Sun, 10/10/2010 - 4:16pm | David Hyde

(October 10, 2010) Hank Kanalz has been named Senior Vice President, Digital of DC Entertainment, it was announced today at New York ComicCon by Jim Lee, DC Comics Co-Publisher and John Rood, DC Entertainment EVP of Sales & Marketing. In this newly created position, Kanalz will develop and oversee the execution of the annual digital publishing schedule, coordinating all digital comic content across DC Universe, Vertigo, and MAD. He will also oversee digital special projects and business development such as custom publishing and e-commerce.” Kanalz will be based in Burbank and report to Lee and Rood, and will work closely with the Warner Bros. Digital Distribution group, which supports the Company’s digital initiatives.

“Hank has been integral to the launch of our digital comics initiative, and was an essential part of WildStorm for the past six years,” said Jim Lee, Co-Publisher, DC Comics. “I’m eager to have him working alongside me to blaze new trails in digital publishing and bring our comics to more readers beyond print.”

Previous to his new role, Hank Kanalz served as Vice President and General Manager of WildStorm, where he oversaw day-to-day operations including editorial, production, coloring and administration, as well as edited several comic titles, including World of Warcraft and Fringe. Kanalz was a key figure in building WildStorm’s strong crossmedia relationships, which led to adaptations of popular film, television and gaming properties to the comics medium.

Before coming to DC Comics in 2004, Kanalz was Director of Worldwide Theme Parks for Warner Bros. Consumer Products, where he oversaw the company's relationship with theme park licensees such as Six Flags and Universal Studios, as well as other destination entertainment businesses. He was a key liaison between DC Comics and Warner Bros. Consumer Products for several years.

Kanalz has also written comic books, including The Flash and Green Lantern for DC.

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dan didio, dc comics, dc entertainment, hank kanalz, jim lee, john rood

A message from Jim Lee and Dan DiDio, DC Comics Co-Publishers

Tue, 09/21/2010 - 1:14pm | David Hyde

The changes happening behind the scenes this week are part of a greater campaign to reshape DC Comics and build a company for the future. Our responsibility as Co-Publishers is to find a balance between short term opportunities and long term vision; between our strengths in traditional print formats and the infinite potential beyond print; between our characters’ rich legacies in the past and the bright promise for the future they hold.

As we’ve said before, there’s much to celebrate about DC. The foundation for long-term success is already here.

The DC Universe features the modern adventures of the World’s Greatest Superheroes, as envisioned by an exciting mix of new and fan favorite comic book creators. Vertigo is committed to publishing cutting edge, creator owned comic books and graphic novels by a wide array of creative voices.

One of our first decisions of the Co-Publishers was to up the publication of MAD Magazine from a quarterly periodical to a bimonthly one. In the wake of that decision, the magazine has seen increased sell-through growth. And we’re thrilled that MAD's brand of madcap humor now stretches across media, with a highly-rated television show on Cartoon Network. The Usual Gangs of Idiots are an important part of this company and pop culture.

As we move forward, we also have to acknowledge the need for change.

After taking the comics scene by storm nearly 20 years ago, the WildStorm Universe titles will end this December. In this soft marketplace, these characters need a break to regroup and redefine what made them once unique and cutting edge. While these will be the final issues published under the WildStorm imprint, it will not be the last we will see of many of these heroes. We, along with Geoff Johns, have a lot of exciting plans for these amazing characters, so stay tuned. Going forward, WildStorm's licensed titles and kids comics will now be published under the DC banner.

After this week, we will cease to publish new material under the ZUDA banner. The material that was to have been published as part of ZUDA this year will now be published under the DC banner. The official closing of ZUDA ends one chapter of DC’s digital history, but we will continue to find new ways to innovate with digital, incorporating much of the experience and knowledge that ZUDA brought into DC.

We’ll be further expanding our digital initiative and making a lot more news in this space. As part of that transformation, the WildStorm editorial team will undergo a restructuring and be folded into the overall DC Comics Digital team, based in Burbank, which will be led by Jim Lee and John Rood. With nearly two million free downloads and hundreds of thousands of paid downloads, our digital foray is already reaching a new audience worldwide. We could not be more excited by the successful launch of our Digital Publishing products in June, which exceeded all sales forecasts and will be building on our early success with new applications for DC material on all major formats and hardware, partnering with Warner Bros Digital Distribution. It has extremely been rewarding to hear anecdotal stories of lapsed readers returning to the art form and of brick and mortar stores gaining new customers who sampled digital comics.

We remain, as ever, dedicated to working with the greatest creators this industry has to offer, while inspiring generations of creators and readers to embrace this medium that we all love.

Jim Lee and Dan DiDio
DC Comics Co-Publishers

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dan didio, dc comics, dc entertainment, jim lee

DC ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES BI-COASTAL REALIGNMENT STRATEGY; MULTI-MEDIA AND DIGITAL BUSINESSES RELOCATE TO LOS ANGELES WHILE DC COMICS PUBLISHING TO REMAIN IN NEW YORK CITY

Tue, 09/21/2010 - 12:06pm | David Hyde

(September 21, 2010 – New York) DC Entertainment, as part of its ongoing strategy to integrate the DC Comics business, brand and characters into Warner Bros. Entertainment’s content and distribution operations, will relocate its business functions related to and supporting multi-media and digital content production to Burbank, California. DCE’s publishing operations will remain in New York, continuing DC Comics’ 75-plus year legacy of leadership in the comic book arena. These announcements were made today by Diane Nelson, President, DC Entertainment.

“These organizational changes reinforce the strengths of DC’s greatest legacies – most importantly its people and its creative talent – and offer greater opportunity for maximum growth, success and efficiency in the future,” said Nelson. “Our two offices will stretch and build their respective areas of focus, while prioritizing and aggressively striving to connect and cooperate more strongly than ever before between them and with their colleagues at Warner Bros.”

“This strategic business realignment allows us to fully integrate and expand the DC brand in feature films as well as across multiple distribution platforms of Warner Bros. and Time Warner,” said Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, to whom Nelson reports. “We are creating a seamless, cohesive unit that will bring even more great characters and content to consumers everywhere.”

The relocation process is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2011, with DCE’s businesses related to the development and production of feature films, television, digital media, video games and consumer products as well as the company’s administrative functions relocating to a Warner Bros.-managed property in Burbank, CA. DC Comics’ publishing operations, which have been the bedrock since the company’s inception with an annual output of over 1,100 comic books, 300 graphic novels and MAD magazine, will remain in New York. The bi-coastal business units will work more closely together to continue elevating the powerful DCE brand.

DC Entertainment was founded in September 2009 to fully realize the power and value of the DC Comics brand and characters across all media and platforms. The senior management team responsible for shepherding DCE through this reorganization is comprised of Nelson, Geoff Johns, Chief Creative Officer; John Rood, Executive Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Business Development; and Jim Lee and Dan DiDio, Co-Publishers of DC Comics.

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dc comics, dc entertainment
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