Paramount Studios CEO fires two top execs
Paramount Film Group President John Lesher and Production President Brad Weston were fired on Friday by Paramount CEO and Chairman Brad Grey, but they won't be unemployed since both have production deals with the studio.
On Friday, Paramount Studios Chairman and CEO Brad Grey fired Paramount Film Group President John Lesher and Production President Brad Weston.
According to an article on HollywoodReporter.com, "Production president Adam Goodman, who served as DreamWorks president of production until Steven Spielberg's company split from Paramount in October, will take over for Lesher, overseeing Par's various film labels."
Grey then announced that both Lesher and Weston had been offered production deals with the studio. This development comes just 18 months after Lesher had been promoted to the top job at the parent studio.
A Variety.com article notes another interesting move that came mere months prior to the ousting, "The move comes eight months after DreamWorks founder Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider left Paramount and Grey moved Goodman -- who had been DreamWorks head of production -- into overseeing production at Par."
Since Goodman was brought over by Grey to oversee all the DreamWorks-developed material and staff, Grey has seen how he has guided several films to blockbuster success.
"Adam has proven himself to be a terrific executive with a track record of having shepherded some incredibly successful films," Grey said. "We have worked closely with Adam over the last few years and look forward to expanding his duties."
Since Viacom purchased DreamWorks in 2006, Goodman has overseen a series of commercially profitable films such as "I Love You, Man," "Tropic Thunder" and "Disturbia."
Lesher came to Paramount, as the head of Paramount Vantage, following a lengthy career as a leading talent agent. While at Vantage, Lesher oversaw films like "No Country for Old Men" and "There Will Be Blood." At Paramount, he and Weston oversaw "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "Star Trek."
As for Weston, he came to Paramount in 2006 and was production president. Previously, Weston had been co-president of Dimension Films.
The HollywoodReporter.com article goes on to say, "As the new president of the Paramount Film Group, Goodman will report to Grey, while Par vice chairman Rob Moore will continue to oversee Goodman on business affairs matters. Goodman becomes the third exec to oversee all of Par's film production since Grey was installed as Par chairman in January 2005."
