Oren Aviv Joins Robert Simonds' Next Gen Studio As President And Chief Content Officer Of The Motion Picture Group

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Oren Aviv, the highly respected entertainment industry executive who is distinguished for having successfully run production and marketing at two of Hollywood's largest studios, has joined Robert Simonds' newly announced next generation film and television studio as President and Chief Content Officer of the Motion Picture Group.

Aviv will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of motion picture development, production, and marketing. He will report directly to Simonds. 

"Oren is one of the most accomplished and successful executives working in our industry today. His track record of achievement while running production and marketing at Disney and as CMO at Fox is extraordinary. His creative experience, talent relationships, skill set and vision will have a profound impact on our new studio," said Simonds. "There is no one better prepared, equipped or experienced to oversee our motion picture development, production and marketing operations. We could not be more thrilled to welcome him aboard."

Added Aviv, "I'm tremendously excited to be working with Bob and his fantastic team. It's not often you're given an opportunity to redefine and recalibrate the way a business is run. We have a very disciplined and unique approach to our development philosophy, and we intend to create a home for established stars that is second to none."

Aviv further explained, "We're ramping up to produce and distribute up to 10 mainstream motion pictures a year in all genres with stars in their signature roles. The studio will strategically focus on films in the $20 to $60 million range. We can't wait to bring our first few films into the market next year."

Aviv is the latest high-profile hire for the studio, which also includes Chief Operating Officer Thomas McGrath, the former COO of Viacom Entertainment. The studio's Board of Directors includes many prominent players in the world of global finance and entertainment such as Frank Biondi, former President and CEO of Viacom, Inc. and Former Chairman and CEO of Universal Studios; Tony Vinciquerra, Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fox Networks Group; film and stage producer, businesswoman and filmmaker Gigi Pritzker (Ender's Game, Drive); David Bonderman, Founding Partner of TPG; Bill McGlashan, Managing Partner and Founder of TPG Growth; and John Zhao, CEO of Hony Capital.

After formally launching just four months ago, the studio has already scored its first major television production commitment with NBC's recent primetime pick-up of the drama series "State of Affairs," starring Katherine Heigl.  The show will debut this November.

The fully capitalized studio is led by Simonds, the prolific and profitable producer whose combined credits have generated over $6 billion in worldwide box office receipts. The studio is backed by blue chip financial partners at TPG Growth, the middle market and growth equity investment platform of TPG,  Hony Capital, a leading private equity firm in China, business interests of Gigi Pritzker (represented by DNS Capital), and business interests of Beau Wrigley. 

Aviv's expertise and career spans motion picture marketing, film production, creative content and digital advertising, brand creation, and management leadership. He most recently served as President of Domestic Theatrical Marketing and Chief Marketing Officer for Twentieth Century Fox, where he was responsible for overseeing all marketing campaigns for 20^th Century Fox, Fox 2000 and Fox Animation films. He successfully launched blockbusters including Rise of the Planet of the Apes and X-Men: First Class; the animated hits Rio, The Croods and Ice Age: Continental Drift; as well as Ridley Scott's sci-fi epic Prometheus; The Wolverine starring Hugh Jackman; the Sandra Bullock/Melissa McCarthy comedy hit The Heat; and Ang Lee's Oscar-winning Life of Pi.   

Prior to Fox, Aviv served for five years (2006-2010) as President of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, where he was responsible for leading all aspects of live-action development and film production for the motion picture division of The Walt Disney Studios.  Under Aviv's direction, Disney's major box office successes included Tim Burton's billion dollar-grossing Alice in Wonderland; Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, which earned over $960 million dollars worldwide; National Treasure and its sequel National Treasure: Book of Secrets; the comedy smash Wild Hogs; the live-action musical comedy Enchanted; the Sandra Bullock/Ryan Reynolds hit The Proposal; plus launching The Hannah Montana and High School Musical feature films.  

Before heading production, Aviv was Disney's President of Marketing (2000-2006), and was also named Chief Creative Officer for The Walt Disney Studios in 2004. Aviv's creative and strategic marketing campaigns launched the Pirates of the Caribbean, Narnia, National Treasure and Step Up franchises, along with blockbusters such as The Sixth Sense; Finding Nemo; Pearl Harbor; The Incredibles; Ransom; The Rock; Signs; Monsters, Inc.; Armageddon; Sister Act; The Waterboy; Unbreakable; 101 Dalmatians; as well as hundreds of other films under the Disney, Touchstone and Hollywood Pictures banners. 

Aviv was also Executive Producer on Walt Disney Pictures' National Treasure franchise, which was based on his idea and for which he received Story By credit. He also received the same Executive Producer and Story By credits on Disney's 1994 film RocketMan. He worked at The Walt Disney Company for 20 years.

The advertising community has consistently recognized Aviv's signature campaigns. He is a three-time recipient of Advertising Age's coveted Marketer of the Year award winning honors for Pirates of the Caribbean, followed by The Incredibles, and The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. He also has received many prestigious advertising and marketing awards, including Clios, Beldings, and numerous Key Art Awards.

In 2005, Aviv created, and is listed as an inventor, on a patented technology device called the Disney D-Coder, a precursor to QR Codes, which has revolutionized on-line sales and marketing for many industries. ​

Steve Elzer
Elzer & Associates, Inc
[email protected]
(213) 392-4660

SOURCE Robert Simonds