Danny Cohen Joins Len Blavatnik To Launch Access Entertainment

NEW YORK and LONDON, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Access Industries, a privately held industrial group with major holdings in the music, media and telecommunications sectors, today announces the formation of Access Entertainment, a division of Access Industries focused on investments across the entertainment sector with a concentration in high-quality television, films, and theatrical productions. 

Danny Cohen is the newly-appointed President of Access Entertainment.  Previously, Cohen was the Director of BBC Television, responsible for all of the BBC's drama, feature film, comedy, entertainment and unscripted content.

In his new role, Cohen will seek out creative and strategic business opportunities throughout the world and work closely with Warner Music Group (the world's third-largest music company) and other Access-owned companies to drive creative and commercial opportunities across the audio-visual sectors. He will draw together talent in Access's extensive music, television, film and theatre investments to create unique potential for the Access group.  

The goal is to develop Access Entertainment into one of the world's leading independent investors in the entertainment media sector, with plans to invest several hundred million dollars in the initial phase. 

"I look forward to working closely with Danny," said Len Blavatnik, founder and chairman of Access Industries.  "Danny's extensive experience and network will be invaluable as we identify and develop new media and entertainment investment opportunities." 

"I am absolutely thrilled to be joining Len Blavatnik and the Access team," said Danny Cohen. "Len has proven to be a visionary business leader across a wide range of industries and we have plans to grow Access as an entertainment company. Our ambition is to work with the world's most talented creatives in environments that allow them to do their best work. Our investments will be wide-ranging: companies, people, television series, movies, theatrical productions and innovative digital opportunities. We will earn a reputation for quality, innovation and commitment to great talent."

About Access Industries

Founded in 1986 by Len Blavatnik, an American entrepreneur and philanthropist, Access Industries is a privately-held industrial group with strategic investments in the United States, Europe and South America.  With corporate offices in New York, London and Moscow, its holdings include a number of market-leading companies in the Natural Resources and Chemicals, Media and Telecommunications, Technology and E-commerce, and Real Estate sectors. For more information, visit www.accessindustries.com

About Danny Cohen

Danny Cohen was previously the Director of BBC Television, where he led the BBC's Television Networks and BBC Productions - Europe's largest television production group with a staff of 3000. His role encompassed the greenlighting and production of all of the BBC's Drama, Comedy, Entertainment and Unscripted programmes. Danny was also in charge of the BBC's movie label BBC Films and was the creative leader of the BBC's digital platform, the iPlayer. Cohen was a member of the Board of the BBC. 

Cohen has been credited for leading the resurgence of drama on the BBC, having commissioned or overseen shows like Happy Valley, Poldark, JK Rowling's television output, Wolf Hall, Top of the Lake, Peaky Blinders, Doctor Who and War and Peace. He also oversaw major BBC unscripted brands including Strictly Come Dancing (Dancing with the Stars) and The Graham Norton Show and led BBC One's coverage of the 2012 London Olympics.

Previously, Danny was Controller of the BBC's principal network, BBC One - where he led the Channel to the most successful year in its modern history in 2012 - and before that Controller of BBC Three, Head of E4 and Head of Documentaries for Channel 4. His commissions  in these roles included: Skins, The Inbetweeners, Call The Midwife, Happy Valley, Blood Sweat and T-Shirts, Dickensian, Russell Howard's Good News, Supernanny, The Voice, Car Share and many others.

About Warner Music Group

With its broad roster of new stars and legendary artists, Warner Music Group is home to a collection of the best-known record labels in the music industry including Asylum, Atlantic, Big Beat, Canvasback, East West, Elektra, Erato, FFRR, Fueled by Ramen, Nonesuch, Parlophone, Reprise, Rhino, Roadrunner, Sire, Warner Bros., Warner Classics and Warner Music Nashville, as well as Warner/Chappell Music, one of the world's leading music publishers, with a catalog of more than one million copyrights worldwide. 

Contact

Christopher Beattie
Brunswick Group (New York)
+1 212-333-3810
Or
Andrew Garfield/ Stuart Donnelly
Brunswick Group (London)
44 (0) 20 7404 5959

SOURCE Access Industries

Related Links

http://www.accessindustries.com