The Lava Bear Films founder and former Universal Pictures chairman will start work at Jeff Skoll’s company on November 1.

David Linde

The highly regarded and widely experienced Linde fills the vacancy created last April when Jim Berk departed after butting heads with Participant Media founder and chairman Skoll over management philosophy.

The executive arrives on the eve of the day-and-date theatrical and streaming (via Netflix) launch of Participant’s awards contender Beasts Of No Nation.

The company’s imminent releases include a bevy of other titles expected to vie for honours such as Spotlight, Bridge Of Spies and Our Brand Is Crisis. Documentary He Named Me Malala is currently in release.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Participant is poised to make a $200m equity investment in DreamWorks. Reliance Entertainment is an investor in DreamWorks and also in Lava Bear, the company Linde founded several years ago.

While it remains unclear whether Linde will sell his stake in Lava Bear, he will continue to work with Lava Bear president and partner Tory Metzger on that company’s 2016 release slate, which includes The Forest, Shut In, Desierto and Story Of Your Life. Metzger will oversee the current and upcoming roster with Linde’s support during his transition.

“David is the perfect leader for Participant,” said Skoll. “David has the creative acumen to tell stories on the issues that matter, the respect of the artistic and business communities, and entrepreneurial talent to advance these stories by any means possible throughout the world.”

Linde added: “Jeff’s vision is vitally distinct and powerful and offers partners around the world tremendous opportunity. It’s an absolutely unique chance to combine my professional experience and relationships with my intellectual and emotional priorities and expand Participant Media’s impact on a global level.”

Linde’s career credits include joint stewardship with James Schamus of Focus Features and he was a partner at Good Machine International after serving in a senior capacity at Miramax.

Participant’s original television programming includes Hit Record On TV With Joseph Gordon Levitt, Fortitude and Human Resources. The company owns TV network Pivot and digital hub and social action platform TakePart.

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