New President, Worldwide Marketing and Home Entertainment @ Marvel Studios

6 mars 2008 Non Par Comic Box

marvelstudios.jpg[ENGLISH] BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. Geoffrey Ammer has been named president of worldwide marketing and home entertainment for Marvel Studios, the Hollywood division of Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL – News). The announcement was made today by David Maisel, Chairman of Marvel Studios.

One of Hollywood’s most accomplished marketers with more than 20 years of experience, Mr. Ammer successfully led the motion picture marketing divisions for Sony Pictures and Disney. In his new position, he will oversee theatrical and home entertainment marketing for Marvel Studios’ upcoming slate of live action motion pictures.

Reporting to Mr. Maisel, Mr. Ammer will begin immediately working on campaigns to support this summer’s highly anticipated releases, Iron Man on May 2nd and The Incredible Hulk on June 13th. He will be responsible for working with Marvel’s studio distribution partners in guiding pre and post release marketing initiatives on Marvel Studios’ slate, including creative advertising, publicity, promotions, licensing, merchandising, interactive marketing, research and media planning. This marketing activity will include working with Paramount as Marvel’s studio distribution partner on Iron-Man and with Universal Studios as Marvel’s studio distribution partner for The Incredible Hulk.

Mr. Maisel said of the appointment, “We are pleased to have Geoff join our team in this very exciting time for Marvel Studios. His tremendous marketing experience and expertise will truly help to maximize the success of Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk this summer, as well as Marvel Studios’ future film releases.”

Marvel recently launched its independent live-action film studio to develop, produce, and fully finance movies based on Marvel’s renowned catalogue of characters. In addition to the upcoming releases of Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, in development at Marvel Studios are Captain America, Thor, Ant-Man and The Avengers. Marvel Studios is also working with Lionsgate on Punisher: War Zone slated for September 12, 2008 and Twentieth Century Fox on X-Men Origins: Wolverine which is in production and slated for release on May 1, 2009, as well as with Sony Pictures on Spider-Man 4 which is currently in development.

“The Marvel catalogue is one of the most valuable and iconic character-driven libraries in the industry, and I can’t think of another company with the wealth of unique, branded properties that Marvel controls,” Mr. Ammer said. “As Marvel Studios begins producing its own motion pictures, this is a remarkably exciting time to join David Maisel and his team.”

Most recently, Mr. Ammer served as an independent marketing consultant through his company G 2 Consulting. Along with Marvel Studios, clients have included Sony Pictures, Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison, Revolution Studios, Steve Bing’s Shangri-La Entertainment, and Level 1 Entertainment, among others.

Prior to launching G 2, Mr. Ammer served as president of worldwide marketing for the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group. During his tenure, the studio enjoyed one of the most successful eras in its history, launching twenty-eight #1 films including Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2, Hitch, Guess Who, The Forgotten, The Grudge, 50 First Dates, Bad Boys 2, Something’s Gotta Give, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, S.W.A.T., XXX, Anger Management, Men in Black II, Maid in Manhattan, Mr. Deeds, Panic Room, Black Hawk Down and Darkness Falls.

Mr. Ammer joined Sony from Revolution Studios, where he collaborated on all aspects of marketing and distribution worldwide for Revolution Studios’ motion picture releases. Prior to joining Revolution Studios, Mr. Ammer served as Co-President of Marketing in the Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group at The Walt Disney Company. During his five years at Disney, he worked on campaigns for such memorable motion pictures as The Sixth Sense, The Insider, Tarzan, Toy Story 2 and Remember the Titans.

Mr. Ammer was named Entertainment Marketer of the Year in 2003 by Advertising Age, and in 2002 he was named one of Brandweek Magazine’s Entertainment Marketers of the Year.

About Marvel Entertainment, Inc.

With a library of over 5,000 characters, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel’s operations are focused on utilizing its character franchises in licensing, entertainment, publishing and toys. Areas of emphasis include feature films, DVD/home video, consumer products, video games, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Rooted in the creative success of over sixty years of comic book publishing, Marvel’s strategy is to leverage its character franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world. For more information visit www.marvel.com.