Marchand exits Momentum
by Annika Pham
Xavier Marchand, managing director of UK independent distribution company Momentum Pictures, has been suspended and replaced – on an interim basis – by former Sony executive Richard Napper.
The surprise announcement was made late last week by Momentum’s Canadian mother company Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. (AACI). No specific explanation was given for Marchand’s suspension, although the company linked it to the overall revamping of entire distribution operation as part of its sale negotiations with Canada’s leading media group CanWest Communications and US bank Golden Sachs Capital Partners.
Napper, who left his position as MD for Sony Film Releasing UK last May, will oversee the activities of both Momentum Pictures in the UK and AACI’s Spanish subsidiary Aurum Pictures , acquired in 2004.
“Richard has a vast amount of experience in marketing and distribution in the UK and thoroughly understands this market”, said John Bailey, CEO of Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution (AAMPD) . “His knowledge and expertise are going to be of huge benefit to Momentum, Aurum and to all of us at AAMPD”.
Momentum is currently enjoying the theatrical UK success of Miss Potter [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (£1.4m in ten days). Its biggest hits in 2006 included UK/South African film Tsotsi [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (£0.78m) and UK/German film The Dark (£0.61m).
Upcoming releases include Bobby (January 26), Luc Besson’s Arthur and the Invisibles [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (Feb 2), Hannibal Rising (Feb 9), The Illusionist (Feb 16) and Amazing Grace (March 23).
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