LA-based feature and television international distribution and sales company Clandestine Service has hired Robert Aaronson as executive vice president of acquisitions and Roy Bodner as chief operations officer. 

Aaronson will be responsible for sourcing and acquiring a full slate and will represent the company at festivals and markets worldwide.

He currently serves as acquisitions consultant for Universal Pictures International Entertainment, sourcing direct-to-DVD content for Universal’s local distribution offices internationally. Prior to that he acquired such titles as Bottle Shock, The Darwin Awards and A Very British Gangster for Red Envelope Entertainment and served as head of sales.

Bodner takes over day–to-day operations at Clandestine and will also take on COO responsibilities at Broadside Capital, the investment banking, advisory and private equity firm. He will oversee operations at all the portfolio companies that Broadside operates, which include Fierce Entertainment, ShowBizData.com and Fierce Models, as well as Clandestine Service.  

Bodner previously served as senior vice-president of marketing and communications at Peace Arch Entertainment. He executed domestic and international marketing campaigns on more than 70 features and television series. Prior to Peace Arch he held public relations management posts at Disney Consumer Products and E! Television Networks.

Aaronson headed the Fireworks Pictures share of IDP, the domestic distribution joint venture with Samuel Goldwyn Films, and served as vice-president of acquisitions and co-productions at 20th Century Fox, and vice-president of acquisitions at Fine Line Features.   

“The dedication, relationships and experience in the international film industry that Bob Aaronson and Roy Bodner bring to our company augments our already strong feature film sales operation and strengthens our growing worldwide distribution capabilities,” Christopher Petzel, CEO of Clandestine Service, Broadside Capital and its portfolio companies, said.

“The potential for revenue and profit from our international distribution operations looks to be outstanding, and these two industry veterans are the ideal individuals to lead that business for us.”

Executive vice-president Suzanne Barron heads the Clandestine distribution team and recent acquisitions include Perestroika starring Sam Robards, F Murray Abraham and Ally Sheedy, The Coverup with Eliza Dushku, Gabriel Mann and John Savage, and Show De Bola with Thiago Martins, Luis Otavio Fernandes and Lui Mendes.

The Clandestine international catalogue includes titles such as Bright Young Things starring Peter O’Toole, Emily Mortimer and James McAvoy, Love’s Brother with Giovanni Ribisi, and Nearing Grace with Jordana Brewster.