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Press Releases< back to Press Release listRobert Murphy named Chief Financial Officer of Participant ProductionsLos Angeles, June 19, 2007 – Robert Murphy has joined Participant Productions as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice-President, it was announced today by Jim Berk, CEO of Participant.Murphy will report directly to Berk, who commented: “Robert’s extensive financial and analytical experience in the entertainment business provides the additional capabilities which we will need to continue to expand Participant’s operations. Robert will play a key role in keeping the company innovative and financially competitive. “ Murphy will be responsible for overseeing all financial activities and operations for Participant. He will also serve as a key member of the management team responsible for long-range planning and setting the strategic direction for the organization. Jeff Ivers, the Company’s original CFO and Executive Vice-President, Business Affairs will take on an expanded array of duties upon Murphy’s arrival. “Bob’s arrival will allow Jeff to focus on Participant’s increasing film development and production slate. In addition, Jeff will be expanding his responsibilities beyond film into other media platforms as well as into mergers and acquisitions,” commented Jim Berk. Murphy has a distinguished career spanning key financial roles at three major companies. Most recently, Murphy was Chief Financial Officer at International Creative Management (ICM), responsible for finance, accounting, strategic planning, IT, M&A, and administration. Murphy’s role was strategic as well as transaction oriented, supporting clients and agents involved in film, TV, literary, music, news and commercial market segments. Prior to joining ICM, Murphy held the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, SVP CFO, for Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, where he supervised all financial operations related to the productions, marketing and distribution for all pictures released by the Walt Disney Studios. In addition, he coordinated financial activities for Miramax Films, Walt Disney Theatrical Productions and Hollywood Records. While at Disney, Murphy served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Disney Interactive for an interim time helping to launch this new brand, prior to his promotion to SVP CFO. Earlier, he spent 4 years as Vice President of Finance and Administration for Buena Vista Pictures Marketing and Distribution, two business units charged with distributing films, during a period of rapid expansion of Disney output. Murphy began his financial career at PepsiCo, with an 8 year run. His last role was as regional CFO for Pepsi Southwest, where he was responsible for all Pepsi-Cola financial operations in Arizona, New Mexico and West Texas. Murphy received his Bachelors of Arts in Chemistry and Economics at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and his Masters in Business Administration at the University of Chicago. Participant Productions is a Los Angeles-based production company that focuses on socially relevant, commercially viable feature films and documentaries Participant's films have been chosen to awaken, inspire and empower audiences to take action and create change. The company is headed by CEO Jim Berk and President Ricky Strauss. Participant was founded in January 2004 by philanthropist Jeff Skoll, who serves as Chairman. Upcoming releases include Mike Nichols’ CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR, starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, produced by Playtone, co-financed by Participant, Relativity and Universal which will distribute this Christmas; Marc Forster's THE KITE RUNNER, co-financed by Sidney Kimmel Entertainment and Participant, produced by S.K.E. and Parkes/McDonald Productions, presented by Dreamworks and Paramount Vantage which is also distributing in November; Errol Morris’ S.O.P. (Standard Operating Procedure), co-financed by Participant and Sony Pictures Classics, which will distribute; Jonathan Demme’s CARTER, which follows Nobel Peace Prize winning former President Jimmy Carter on a controversial book tour across America, and THE VISITOR, Tom McCarthy’s first film since THE STATION AGENT, co-financed by Participant and Michael London's Groundswell Productions. Brett Morgen’s CHICAGO 10, distributed by Roadside Attractions, produced by Graydon Carter and Brett Morgen, featuring the voices of Hank Azaria, Dylan Baker, Nick Nolte, Mark Ruffalo, Roy Scheider, Liev Schreiber, and Jeffrey Wright; Louise Hogarth’s documentary ANGELS IN THE DUST will be released by Cinema Libre Studio. Participant’s most recent success is AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, which won two Academy Awards for Best Documentary and Best Original Song and has become the third-highest grossing documentary in history. Past films have included GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK., SYRIANA, NORTH COUNTRY and MURDERBALL, which collectively received 11 Academy Award nominations in 2006. < back to Press Release list
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