Universal Pictures Appoints Eddie Cunningham Head Of Worldwide Home Entertainment

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Feb. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Pictures today announced that Eddie Cunningham has been named President, Universal Pictures Worldwide Home Entertainment.  Cunningham, who currently serves as President of Universal Pictures International Entertainment (UPIE), will expand his portfolio to include the company's domestic home entertainment operations, a move designed to provide closer collaboration and a greater global focus across the organization.  Cunningham will continue to report to Universal Pictures President & Chief Distribution Officer Peter Levinsohn who made today's announcement.

"As the home entertainment landscape continues to evolve, we need to ensure that we're operating as one global team positioning ourselves for the greatest success," said Levinsohn.  "Eddie has had tremendous results as head of our international home entertainment division and he will be a terrific leader for our group as we work to shape the future of Universal's home entertainment business with an even greater global focus."

Cunningham, who is based in London and has been UPIE's President for eight years, will relocate to Los Angeles in order to work more closely with Levinsohn and the Universal Pictures executive team.  The company will continue to maintain a strong presence in its London office. 

Prior to his current role at Universal, Cunningham was Managing Director of Polygram's U.K. home entertainment business and budget music labels in 1994, preceding the acquisition by Universal Pictures in 1999.  He then became Chairman of U.K. Operations and Regional Managing Director for the Nordic countries as well as Australia and New Zealand, before being promoted to President, UPIE in November of 2006, where he oversaw the elevation of Universal to market leader in the majority of operational territories and introduced ground-breaking non-traditional growth initiatives in the international home entertainment sector.  Before joining Universal Pictures, Cunningham held a number of roles in retail and distribution.  He was an operating board member of the Woolworths retail business and Commercial Director of Entertainment U.K., the biggest entertainment software wholesaler/distributor in the world.

President of Universal Studios Home Entertainment (USHE) Craig Kornblau, who has been with the company for 16 years, will be leaving to pursue other endeavors. 

"Craig has been a tremendous asset to our company, consistently delivering incredible results for our films throughout his 16 years at Universal," said Levinsohn.  "He's been a leader in our industry and he's helped Universal to continually find new and innovative ways to distribute and market our films in the home entertainment space.  We are extremely grateful to him for his years of service." 

"It has been an incredibly rewarding 16-year run at Universal and I leave on a high note with an immense sense of pride and accomplishment," said Kornblau. "I am very fortunate to have teamed with such an exceptional group of talented individuals and appreciate all of the innovation, collaboration and camaraderie that have rendered this organization second to none in the industry."

About Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios.  Universal Studios is part of NBCUniversal.  NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience.  NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation

SOURCE Universal Pictures