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INDUSTRY VETERANS JOIN SUMMIT HOME ENTERTAINMENT — STEVE NICKERSON NAMED PRESIDENT AND BOBBY GERBER APPOINTED EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER
Los Angeles, CA September 18, 2007 — Summit Entertainment has tapped Steve Nickerson to lead the studio's new home entertainment division as President. Bobby Gerber has also joined Summit as Executive Vice President and General Sales Manager. The two will develop and operate the company's new Home Entertainment division which will focus on traditional video distribution as well as emerging market opportunities. Both veterans join Summit from Warner Home Video. Nickerson will report to Summit's Chief Operating Office, Bob Hayward who made the announcement today. "Bringing executives of Steve and Bobby's caliber to Summit is a strong indicator of the quality of the domestic distribution organization we are creating here at Summit. Both are top tier industry professionals that immediately establish us as a premier supplier in the home entertainment market," said Hayward. Alex Fragen, who as President of Domestic Television Distribution heads up Summit's TV sales, will be working with Nickerson and his team to formulate the studio's new media distribution strategies. Nickerson will also work closely with Universal Studios Home Entertainment (USHE) which Summit announced a physical distribution pact with in June 2007. Under that arrangement Summit will handle all, sales, marketing, retailer relationships, release dating and replication for its home entertainment product. "I am thrilled to be joining the team at Summit and building a Home Entertainment organization that recognizes and is responsive to the dynamic changes taking place in our industry," said Nickerson. Gerber stated: "Entering on the ground floor allows us the ability to develop a team with big studio experience but with a greater consumer and retailer focus. The pace of Summit is very exciting and the energy, the passion and the commitment are invigorating. I look forward to building a significant business here". Nickerson most recently held the role of Senior Vice President, Worldwide High Definition Media, Warner Home Video (WHV). In this position, he developed and managed the company's strategies for new High Definition formats for US and International Markets. He also was responsible for overseeing traditional sales and marketing functions globally. Nickerson joined WHV in 2000 and has served as the Managing Director for WHV's operations in Australia and New Zealand, and also as the company's Senior Vice President of U.S. Sales. Prior to joining WHV, Nickerson spent 16 years in the consumer electronics industry, with a majority of that time at Toshiba where he was an integral part of the initial launch and success of DVD hardware sales in the U.S. Additionally, Nickerson developed and implemented the business plan which enabled Toshiba to become the market leader in Projection Television in the 1990's. Nickerson also held senior level marketing roles at Samsung Consumer Electronics. At Warner Home Video, Gerber served as the Senior Vice President of Field Sales, a role he started in 2005. Gerber joined Warner Home Video in 1997 as Director, Account Development, and later became Director of National Accounts for the Mass, Club and Music channels. During his tenure at WHV he also served as Executive Director of Sell-Through Sales where helped manage the successful transition from the VHS business model to Standard DVD. Later that year, Gerber received another promotion, to Vice President Sell-Through Sales. Prior to Warner, Gerber was the Western Region Director of Sales for Toshiba Consumer Products. He started his career as the Western Region Sales manager for Sanyo Fisher Corp., USA. About Summit Entertainment Summit Entertainment LLC is a new worldwide theatrical motion picture development, financing, production and distribution studio. The studio handles all aspects of marketing and distribution for both its own internally developed motion pictures as well as acquired pictures. Summit Entertainment, LLC also represents international sales for both its own slate and third party product. Summit Entertainment, LLC plans to release 10 to 12 films annually. |
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