A significant reshuffle at Melbourne-based film and leisure conglomerate Village Roadshow last month has resulted in distribution managing director Alan Finney being appointed to the newly-created positions of managing director for the company's Australian production arm and director of business development.
The reshuffle means that Finney will be distanced from the day-to-day functions in the distribution division, where Ian Sands is moving from general manager of sales and programming to general manager of Roadshow Film Distributors.
These changes were part of a large batch of retrenchments in the company's theatrical marketing division, with 21 staff positions abolished in the Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and New Zealand offices.
"[Finney's] new role entails full responsibility for Village Roadshow's investment in Australian films and all aspects of the Group's involvement in the local industry, including production, acquisition for theatrical distribution and acquisition for foreign sales," said Graham Burke, managing director of Village Roadshow Limited. "And he will also spearhead investigations for Village Roadshow into new investment opportunities in the entertainment business."
Burke said Finney "is a man of exceptional ability and energy who has been with us for 25 years.
To keep his unique talent and expertise in the Group it was necessary to respond to his request for new challenges and opportunities."
The group's newly-created international film sales arm is attending its first Cannes, represented by Bob Meyers and Kim Vecera, with the Bryan Brown produced/starring drama Dead Heart, and the New Zealand drama Broken English.
Andrew L Urban
