LEADING EXECUTIVE RON SCHWARTZ SIGNS NEW LONG-TERM DEAL AS PRESIDENT OF LIONSGATE WORLDWIDE HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Company Veteran to Head Global Home Entertainment Initiatives

News provided by

Oct 02, 2018, 12:00 ET

SANTA MONICA, Calif., and VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Underscoring the continued growth and success of its home entertainment business, global content leader Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) has signed Ron Schwartz to a new long-term agreement as President of Lionsgate Worldwide Home Entertainment, it was announced today by Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chairman Joe Drake.

Schwartz will oversee the Company's nearly $1 billion-a-year worldwide home entertainment operations, including the domestic and international home entertainment sales of Lionsgate's feature film slate, one of the largest independent television businesses in the world, a nearly 17,000-title film and television library, and a robust slate of Starz programming. Additionally, he assumes the expanded responsibility for the Company's home entertainment digital transactional business. Reflecting the studio's "Lionsgate 360" approach, he will work closely with Lionsgate President of Worldwide Television & Digital Distribution Jim Packer on all home entertainment initiatives.

Schwartz will continue to shepherd Lionsgate's robust $400 million-a-year multiplatform releasing and specialty acquisitions business, including titles for the Company's Grindstone Entertainment and Premiere labels, sister company Roadside Attractions and numerous third-party partners.

"In today's fast-changing environment, we're always looking for ways to connect our artists and content with consumers across an ever-expanding array of platforms," said Drake. "Ron's great talent relationships, business acumen and strategic vision have helped position Lionsgate as a global home entertainment powerhouse and an innovator in the media space."

Lionsgate has been a first mover in customizing home entertainment release strategies for its content and continues to over-index the industry average. Schwartz and his team have also spearheaded successful new content partnerships with digital platforms, and they continue to capitalize on emerging opportunities throughout the worldwide home entertainment marketplace.

Schwartz served as President & General Manager of Lionsgate Home Entertainment Sales & Distribution before being promoted to head the Company's worldwide home entertainment group in 2014. Prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President & General Manager of Lionsgate's home entertainment operations, playing an instrumental role in the Company's adoption of ground-breaking entertainment technologies and formats.

Schwartz joined Lionsgate through the Company's merger with Trimark in 2000 and was inducted into the Variety Home Entertainment & Digital Hall of Fame in 2015.

ABOUT LIONSGATE

The first major new studio in decades, Lionsgate is a global content leader whose films, television series, digital products and linear and over-the-top platforms reach next generation audiences around the world. In addition to its filmed entertainment leadership, Lionsgate content drives a growing presence in interactive and location-based entertainment, video games, esports and other new entertainment technologies. Lionsgate's content initiatives are backed by a nearly 17,000-title film and television library and delivered through a global sales and distribution infrastructure. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring and ground-breaking content created with special emphasis on the evolving patterns and diverse composition of the Company's worldwide consumer base.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Cristina Castañeda
[email protected]
(310) 255-5114

SOURCE Lionsgate