Lionsgate Announces Restructured Theatrical Publicity Department
Lionsgate’s Executive Vice President of Theatrical Publicity Julie Fontaine has announced a restructuring of the department.
Under Fontaine, films on the theatrical release slate will be divided between two project teams, each led by a Vice President who will spearhead all public relations initiatives. The Vice Presidents of National Publicity are Jennifer Peterson, who joined Lionsgate this year after ten years with Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Marketing, and Jamie Blois, who has been with Lionsgate since 2003.
Upcoming films from Lionsgate include “Conan the Barbarian,” “Warrior,” “Abduction,” “Good Deeds,” “The Hunger Games,” and “What to Expect When You’re Expecting.”
The full press release is reprinted below.
LIONSGATE ANNOUNCES NEWLY RESTRUCTURED THEATRICAL PUBLICITY DEPARTMENT
Revamped Department Includes New Hires and Promotions
Santa Monica, CA, June 29, 2011– LIONSGATE® (NYSE: LGF), a leading global entertainment company, today announced a restructuring of its Theatrical Publicity department. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President of Theatrical Publicity Julie Fontaine, three months after she was hired by Chief Marketing Officer Tim Palen to oversee all public relations and promotional initiatives for the film division.
Under Fontaine, films on the theatrical release slate will be divided between two project teams, each led by a Vice President who will spearhead all public relations initiatives for such titles as CONAN THE BARBARIAN, WARRIOR, ABDUCTION, GOOD DEEDS, THE HUNGER GAMES and WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING.
One team is to be headed by newly appointed Vice President of National Publicity Jennifer Peterson. Peterson joins from Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Marketing, where she had been employed since 2001. Having served as Executive Director of Global Publicity, Peterson was responsible for developing, implementing and managing the domestic PR strategy on films such as ALICE IN WONDERLAND, TOY STORY 3, TRON: LEGACY, and TANGLED.
Jamie Blois, who has been promoted to Vice President of National Publicity, will head the other film team. Blois has been with the company since 2003, and joined the PR department in 2004. She previously served as Executive Director of National Publicity, and has been an integral part of all of the twelve films in the studio’s Tyler Perry franchise. Blois was also involved in key talent and filmmaker relations for Lionsgate’s recent hit films THE EXPENDABLES and THE LINCOLN LAWYER.
Todd Nickels will continue to spearhead all of the studio’s New York based theatrical publicity initiatives in his post as Senior Vice President, National Publicity, and will work closely with both project teams.
Corporate public relations initiatives for the film division will be overseen by Fontaine and managed by Kate Hubin Piliero, who is now serving as the film division’s Vice President of Corporate Communications. Having joined Lionsgate in 2005, Hubin is transitioning from her previous role as Vice President of National Publicity.
Matthew Clasby has been named Vice President of Theatrical Promotions; he will oversee all publicity driven promotions as well as spearhead special events, tradeshows and conventions. Aubrey McClure will continue in her role as Senior Vice President of Promotions, Licensing and Merchandising.
