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Blair Rich is stepping down as President of Global Marketing for Warner Bros. at the end of the year.
His departure comes amid the coronavirus pandemic that has left the film industry in disarray, as well as a company-wide restructuring at WarnerMedia that has resulted in multiple layoffs. The official line is that Rich came out on his own.
“It has been my greatest honor to spend the first chapter of my career with Warner Bros., but after 23 years, it’s time for something new,” Rich said in a statement. “I am grateful to have worked with so many brilliant executives and I treasure the amazing filmmakers and artists who have passionately fueled this work with the goal of connecting global audiences to their remarkable shows and stories. More than anything, leading the most talented marketing team in the business has been the greatest privilege, and I know there is no limit to what they will continue to achieve in the future.
Rich’s move is positioned as amicable and of her own accord, and insiders close to the executive say she was looking to make a change. However, before the coronavirus disrupted the film industry, Warner Bros. had contacted prominent marketing executives from other studios to discuss the possibility of having them replace Rich. The rumor in Hollywood has been circulating around Rich for some time, with plenty of speculation that she was on the verge of being ousted. It has also been said that the relationship between Rich and the Chairman of the Warner Bros. Pictures, Toby Emmerich, had deteriorated, although Emmerich made a magnanimous statement when his release was announced on Friday.
“Blair has had an incredible run during his tenure at Warner Bros. creating and executing a multitude of unique, compelling and award-winning campaigns,” Emmerich said in a statement. “She is a thoughtful leader who is highly respected by her staff, peers and filmmakers. Blair has built a formidable team and set a standard of excellence that will remain his legacy here. We understand and support his desire to expand his horizons and wish him the best in what will no doubt be an exciting next step.
Rich started working at Warner Bros. at the age of 22 and has worked in the studio for over two decades. She was appointed head of global marketing for film group Warner Bros. and home entertainment in 2018, leading campaigns for films such as “Wonder Woman”, “Aquaman” and “A Star Is Born”. During her tenure, she also worked on the “The Dark Knight” trilogy and the “Harry Potter” franchise.
Rich had initially been highly regarded by AT&T executives, Warner Bros. ‘new parent company, due to its data-driven marketing approach. She was also admired for the wit and edge she brought to the marketing materials of films like “The Meg”, “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Joker”. But Rich has also been blamed in some circles of the Warner Bros. Lot. for the poor box office results of recent Warner Bros. releases. such as “The Goldfinch”, “Just Mercy”, “Birds of Prey” and “Doctor Sleep”.
It’s unclear who will replace Rich. His exit follows Lt. JP Richards’ announcement that he would be leaving the company next year.
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