Corporate
August 10, 2006
Blaise Fernandes Promoted To Vice President And Managing Director, Warner Bros. Pictures India Private Limited
(August 10, 2006 – Burbank, CA) – Blaise Fernandes has been promoted to the newly created position of Vice President and Managing Director, Warner Bros. Pictures India Private Limited, it was announced today by Barry Meyer, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer; Alan Horn, President & Chief Operating Officer; and Richard Fox, Executive Vice President, International, Warner Bros.
In this newly created position, Fernandes will oversee all of the company's in-territory businesses with an emphasis on motion pictures, while working closely with divisional presidents and regional and local management to achieve company-specific and enterprise-wide business objectives. Fernandes, who has been with Warner Bros. 16 years, will report to Meyer and Horn through Fox.
“India is an increasingly important and vital market to our company and the entertainment business as a whole,” said Meyer. “We’ll look to Blaise and his expertise to lead our efforts as we move to most effectively increase our company-wide involvement and activities in this region.”
“By having all of our business operations in India report directly into Blaise, we’re well positioned to make the most of the many entertainment opportunities available to us in this exciting, emerging territory,” said Horn.
“This is a very exciting time in all areas of the Indian film business, from production to exhibition,” said Fox. “With films across the creative spectrum—from Hollywood blockbusters to our locally produced pictures—and Blaise heading up our operations, the possibilities available to us are endless. I look forward to working with him to further Warner Bros.’ standing as an important part of the Indian cinema landscape.”
Prior to his promotion, Fernandes served as Managing Director for Warner Bros. in India, a position he had held since 1992. During his tenure in that post, his responsibilities grew corresponding to Warner Bros.’ continually increasing business activities in India and the surrounding territories. Fernandes initially joined the company in 1990 as Marketing Manager, India. Concurrent with his responsibilities at Warner Bros., Fernandes was the Managing Director of Eros Cinema Pvt. Ltd. from December 1990 to July 1994.
Before that, he spent four years at Walt Disney Consumer Products in India, having established that business through a licensing arrangement with Famous Communications.
Fernandes is a member of the Film Producers Guild of India, a member of the Indian Motion Pictures Distributors Association of India, a member of the Film Federation of India, and a Managing Committee member of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI Frames), the largest entertainment convention in India.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and sociology from St. Xavier’s (Mumbai), and earned a post-graduate diploma in mass communications from St. Xavier’s Institute of Communications.
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