Focus Features Brings In Peter Schlessel

Peter_Schlessel_2013In the wake of the Focus Features shake-up two weeks ago, Comcast-owned parent studio Universal Pictures announced the new leadership of its top-ranking executives. Not among the new roster is Focus co-CEO Andrew Karpen, who was offered to stay with the company but chose not to re-locate from New York to Los Angeles, where the company will now be headquartered.

Universal has yet to determine how many of the 44 people employed at the New York office will lose their job. It is believed they will stay on board through the company’s transition through the end of the year, according to sources close to the situation.

The Focus re-structuring, which was announced Tuesday, brings in the majority of the team from FilmDistrict, which was absorbed into the former company, with chief Peter Schlessel replacing former Focus CEO James Schamus.

Source: Variety