UPHE establishes LA hub

President of the studio’s worldwide home entertainment businesses Eddie Cunningham will establish a separate US operating company as well as a Canadian operating company. Universal will retain its nine international offices.

Cunningham (pictured), who reports to Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) president and chief distribution officer Peter Levinsohn and earlier this year relocated from London to Los Angeles, has unveiled his leadership team in a series of appointments at UPHE.

Michael Bonner, who leads the domestic digital distribution side of Universal’s home entertainment group, will continue to oversee that business as evp of digital distribution, reporting to Levinsohn.

Melanie Laithwaite will move from her role as Universal Pictures International Entertainment (UPIE) evp of business affairs and business operations to evp of business affairs and business operations.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment’s (USHE) evp of marketing Hilary Hoffman will become evp of marketing, while UPIE svp of international operations and licensees Paul Chesney assumes a global role as evp of operations.

John Revill, previously UPIE svp and regional managing director sales, insights and catalogue and TV marketing, will become evp of global partners and sales, while Glenn Ross will continue in his capacity as evp of Universal 1440 Entertainment, overseeing the company’s home entertainment original productions arm.

Helen Parker, who oversees the company’s international acquisitions and production business, will continue in her capacity as evp and managing director A&R.

John Morici, formerly USHE COO and CFO, becomes evp and regional managing director of the newly formed US and Canadian operating companies. John Melluso, who previously held the title of vp of sales, will become the new managing director of the Canadian operating company, reporting to Morici.

The following will continue in their current roles as regional managing directors and managing directors with a direct report to Cunningham: Ian Foster – UK and Japan; Pauline Grimaldi d’Esdra – France; Dirk Lisowsky –Germany, Austria and Switzerland; and Jim Batchelor – Australia (joint venture with Sony).