Corporate
September 28, 2011
Paolo Ferrari, President And Managing Director, Warner Bros. Entertainment Italy Announces Retirement From Warner Bros. After 21-Year Career At The Studio
(September 28, 2011 – London, UK and Rome, Italy) – Long-time Warner Bros. Entertainment executive Paolo Ferrari has announced today that he is retiring after a 21-year career at the Studio. He will remain with Warner Bros. until spring of 2012.
One of the most respected executives in the Italian film industry today, Ferrari joined Warner Bros. Entertainment in 1989 as Managing Director of Warner Bros. Italia, and subsequently as Managing Director Italy, Warner Bros. Pictures International. Since 2007, he has served as President and Managing Director, Warner Bros. Entertainment Italy, responsible for the general oversight of all of Warner Bros. businesses in Italy, including theatrical and home video production, marketing and distribution (both Studio and local-language films), television distribution, international cinemas, consumer products, digital distribution and interactive entertainment, managing the in-country divisional teams in partnership with their respective regional and divisional presidents and senior executives.
“Over the last 21 years, I have had the great privilege of leading what I believe is the best and most successful team in the Italian entertainment business,” said Ferrari. “As I look forward to the next chapter in my life, I want to thank all my colleagues, both past and present, who have made my time at Warner Bros. not only enjoyable, but something I can truly be proud of.”
Barry Meyer, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Warner Bros., said, “Paolo has been a force in the Italian film industry in an outstanding career spanning almost five decades, and we are exceptionally fortunate to have had him at the helm of our Italian business during such a key period for our company. We will all miss him and wish him well with the next stage of his life.”
“Paolo is one of the most accomplished executives in our company, with a rare combination of creative and business experience, and an incredible knowledge and understanding of all aspects of our businesses across Italy,” said Richard Fox, Executive Vice President, International, Warner Bros. “We are honored to have had him as a leading member of our team for the last two decades, and he will be missed by us all.”
Prior to joining Warner Bros. Italia, Ferrari worked at Columbia Tri-Star Films Italia for 11 years, lastly serving there as General Manager. Before that, he spent 17 years at MGM holding various titles, including Director of Sales and General Manager.
Ferrari was the president of ANICA (National Association of the Audiovisual and Multimedia Movie Industry) and president of the organizing committee of Turin International Sport Film Festival (CONI-AGIS). From 2003-2006, he served as president of Cinetel, a trade group responsible for reporting Italian box office results, and also served for several years as the president of Italy’s anti-piracy association FAPAV (Federazione Antipirateria Audiovisiva).
He has received two prestigious awards from the President of the Italian Republic in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Italian film industry: in November 2006 he was appointed Grande Ufficiale; in June 2009, he was appointed Cavaliere del Lavoro.###