Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Jun 28, 2014 6:53:54 GMT -6
variety.com/2014/scene/news/ex-dune-ceo-greg-coote-dead-at-72-1201253617/
HONG KONG — Greg Coote, the Australian-born, U.S.-based executive who held numerous senior jobs in Hollywood and Asia, has died.
Formerly CEO of film financier Dune Entertainment, he passed away June 27 in Los Angeles. He was 72.
Coote literally started his movie career working in the mailroom and worked his way up to become head of Australian distributor Village Roadshow Pictures.
He left Roadshow to become managing director of the Ten Network and oversaw a massive improvement in its ratings.
He then joined Columbia Pictures in Los Angeles as president of its international theatrical division, where he was responsible for worldwide acquisition, marketing and distribution.
Later he rejoined Village Roadshow when it became publicly listed and became the founding president and CEO of Village Roadshow in Los Angeles, forging a production deal with Warner Bros. that exists to the present day.
Dune Entertainment was the production financing entity that co-invested alongside 20th Century Fox in a large number of movies, including blockbuster “Avatar.”
In later years, Coote turned his corporate and cross-Pacific experience to advise ambitious younger companies in Asia and become a ‘professional non-executive director.’
He chaired China Lion Film Distribution and ScreenSingapore; served as a non-executive director of Eros International; partnered with Leon Tan in the Malaysian-based DragonSlate; and made Larrikin Entertainment, the business he formed with David Calvert-Jones, his Century City-based development and production company until his death.
A funeral will be held in Santa Monica on Wednesday, July 2. A service in Sydney, Australia will be held at a later date.
HONG KONG — Greg Coote, the Australian-born, U.S.-based executive who held numerous senior jobs in Hollywood and Asia, has died.
Formerly CEO of film financier Dune Entertainment, he passed away June 27 in Los Angeles. He was 72.
Coote literally started his movie career working in the mailroom and worked his way up to become head of Australian distributor Village Roadshow Pictures.
He left Roadshow to become managing director of the Ten Network and oversaw a massive improvement in its ratings.
He then joined Columbia Pictures in Los Angeles as president of its international theatrical division, where he was responsible for worldwide acquisition, marketing and distribution.
Later he rejoined Village Roadshow when it became publicly listed and became the founding president and CEO of Village Roadshow in Los Angeles, forging a production deal with Warner Bros. that exists to the present day.
Dune Entertainment was the production financing entity that co-invested alongside 20th Century Fox in a large number of movies, including blockbuster “Avatar.”
In later years, Coote turned his corporate and cross-Pacific experience to advise ambitious younger companies in Asia and become a ‘professional non-executive director.’
He chaired China Lion Film Distribution and ScreenSingapore; served as a non-executive director of Eros International; partnered with Leon Tan in the Malaysian-based DragonSlate; and made Larrikin Entertainment, the business he formed with David Calvert-Jones, his Century City-based development and production company until his death.
A funeral will be held in Santa Monica on Wednesday, July 2. A service in Sydney, Australia will be held at a later date.