Home Entertainment
March 16, 2006
Simon Kenny Named President, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
(March 16, 2006 – Burbank, CA) – Simon Kenny has been named President of the newly formed Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, one of the companies that make up the Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, it was announced today by Kevin Tsujihara, President, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group.
In this newly created role, Kenny will manage the worldwide electronic distribution streams of the Studio’s product over existing, new and emerging digital platforms, including pay-per-view, electronic sell-through, video-on-demand, subscription-video-on-demand, wireless and more. He will also oversee the Studio’s worldwide digital strategy, partnerships in digital services and emerging new clients and business activities in the digital space.
As announced at its formation in October 2005, the Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group is comprised of Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (which incorporates Warner Bros. Online and Wireless), Warner Home Video, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (including Warner Bros. Games), Warner Bros. Technical Operations and Warner Bros. Anti-Piracy Operations.
Kenny, who currently serves as Executive Vice President, Europe, Warner Bros. International Television Distribution and is based in London, will relocate to Burbank and report directly to Tsujihara. He will assume his new role full-time following the L.A. Screenings at the end of May. A new head of Europe for WBITD will be announced in the coming weeks.
“Our priority is the consumer, and our focus is on ensuring that our product is available to them on as many platforms with as much flexibility, functionality and portability as they desire,” said Tsujihara. “As digital distribution is no longer just a theory, but a reality, we are charged with managing and leading the retail and consumer transition from a purely packaged distribution scheme to one that supports both packaged and digital distribution, and both standard and high def formats, while not cannibalizing any one segment of the business, but rather maximizing the opportunities afforded by all. Simon’s experience in existing, emerging and next-generation distribution scenarios makes him the perfect choice to head up our digital distribution initiative, and we’re pleased to have him as an integral member of our team.”
“I’m excited about leading the group that will strategize on and implement the methods of digital distribution for all the new and emerging platforms and to be working with Kevin to create new revenue opportunities on behalf of Warner Bros., a true leader in entertainment,” added Kenny.
The Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group was founded to bring together all of the Company’s businesses involved in the digital delivery of entertainment content to consumers, while furthering Warner Bros.’ mandate to harness the benefits of emerging technologies and manage the risks these technologies pose to the economic value of the content. Establishing Warner Bros. Digital Distribution and naming Kenny its President solidly supports these business objectives.
Kenny has served as Executive Vice President, Europe, WBITD since January 2004, after joining WBITD in 2003 as Senior Vice President, Europe.
Kenny joined WBITD from Disney where he worked for more than a decade, having joined the company as Director, Barter Sales in 1992 from Young & Rubicam Europe, to develop Disney’s advertiser-funded program distribution initiative in Eastern Europe. In 1994, he was promoted to Vice President, TV Sales, Walt Disney Television International, where he was responsible for distributing Disney and Touchstone content to television and cable/satellite stations in Europe, Africa and Latin America. In 1995, Kenny added responsibility for business development to his distribution duties. In 1997, Kenny turned his attention to the Latin American marketplace full-time as Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Walt Disney Television International, Latin America, based in Miami. In 2000, Kenny returned to London to take over as Senior Vice President & Managing Director of The Walt Disney Internet Group, Europe. Kenny is a graduate of the University of North London in Philosophy.# # #