Barquet joins Universal as svp production finance

Veteran finance executive Arturo Barquethas joined Universal Pictures as senior vice president of production finance.

Barquet will oversee projects through pre-production, production andpost-production and coordinate all financing vehicles for specified projects onUniversal's theatrical slate and all theatrical stage productions.

Reporting to Universal chief financial officer Patti Hutton, Barquet will alsobe responsible for all financing on the studio's development deals with talentand outside production companies, and will play a key role in the analysis andbudgeting process, including finance arrangements for co-productions and saleand leaseback opportunities.

His immediate projects will include King Kong, The Producers, and PrideAnd Prejudice.

Barquet most recently served as the chief financial officer and senior vicepresident of business and legal affairs at Arenas Entertainment.

Prior to that he worked at Disney and served as controller and directorof production finance at Vin Di Bona Productions.