Television
September 26, 2005
The WB Names John D. Maatta Chief Operating Officer
(September 26, 2005 - Burbank, CA) - John D. Maatta, has been named Chief Operating Officer of The WB Television Network, it was announced today by Garth Ancier, Chairman of The WB, to whom Mr. Maatta will report.
As COO, Mr. Maatta, in addition to being the network’s General Counsel, will have the network’s business and operations departments reporting to him including Business Affairs, Finance, Network Distribution including The WB 100+ Station Group, Technology, Legal, Research, Network Operations, Broadcast Standards, and Human Resources.
Mr. Maatta previously was Executive Vice-President and General Counsel of the Network with Legal and Human Resources reporting to him.
“John has distinguished himself with his sound judgment and great leadership skills. He will be a key architect in helping us continue as innovators as we chart our course to higher profitability.” said Garth Ancier. “He always takes a big picture view to everything he does while bringing a great deal of wisdom, knowledge and patience to all matters he deals with; qualities that make him the perfect choice to work side by side with me in running the business and operational areas of the network.”
SAID JOHN D. MAATTA:
“The extraordinary thing about The WB, and by extension about Warner Bros., is the integrity, intellectual horsepower and creativity of the executive ranks. The chance to work more closely with Garth Ancier, David Janollari (The WB’s President of Entertainment) and Bruce Rosenblum (President of the Warner Bros. Television Group) represents a unique opportunity at a very unique company. Additionally, I look forward to working day-to-day with the roster of hugely talented executives running the business and operational departments of our company — Ken Werner (Distribution), Mitchell H. Nedick (Finance), Michael A. Ross (Business Affairs), Russell Myerson (the 100+ Group), Mary Hall (Research), Rick Mater (Broadcast Standards), Valerie Masterson (Human Resources), Harold Protter (Technology), and Jeremy Sunderland (Legal); who are an extraordinary group of senior executives.”
Mr. Maatta is not only distinguished by being The WB’s very first employee, he has also been in the Warner Bros. family since 1986 when he joined Lorimar Telepictures Corporation as legal counsel, At Lorimar, he rose to Vice President, Business Affairs; subsequently at Warner Bros. Television, Mr. Maatta held the positions of Senior Attorney and Vice President and Senior Attorney, before he moved to The WB in 1993. Prior to Lorimar Mr. Maatta was a trial lawyer in San Francisco.
Mr. Maatta sits on the board of the Trader Vic's Restaurant Corporation (and is the former Chairman of the Board of that enterprise). Mr. Maatta also serves on the board of Rochester Television Ventures, LLC, and has been published in respected scholarly law journals on subjects of Hollywood and entertainment.
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