Nicholas Carpou, Universal's executive vice president of distribution, has been named co-president of distribution, the studio announced Tuesday.
He has worked for Universal for 29 years.
It's the latest in a series of changes in the studio's executive suite.
Earlier this month, the studio announced that its president of marketing, Eddie Egan, is switching to head of marketing at Illumination Entertainment. On May 2, Universal fired its president of production, Debbie Liebling.
The switch comes barely five months after the Comcast took over the studio as part of its $13.8 billion purchase of NBC Universal.
Here's the company's release:
NICHOLAS CARPOU PROMOTED TO CO-PRESIDENT, DISTRIBUTION AT UNIVERSAL PICTURES
UNIVERSAL CITY, CA, May 31, 2011—Universal Pictures’ President of Distribution Nikki Rocco today announced that as of June 1, Nicholas Carpou will become Co-President of Distribution for the film studio.
Carpou, who currently serves as Executive Vice President of Distribution, has been with Universal for 29 years. In his new role, Carpou will become more involved in the day-to-day management and operations of the studio’s distribution division and at this time will remain responsible for oversight of Canada, the Eastern United States and Puerto Rico. He will continue to report to Rocco and work closely with Executive Vice President, General Sales Manager of Distribution, Mark Gaines and Universal’s sales team.
“For many years, Nick has been a tremendous asset to our operation, shepherding some of the best and most profitable Universal films through theaters all over the country,” said Rocco. “This is a well-deserved promotion that recognizes his enormous achievements on behalf of our company.”
Carpou is a 34-year veteran of film distribution who began his career in San Francisco with United Artists Corporation in 1977. He worked for Associated Film Distribution from 1980 to 1981, and then joined Universal’s San Francisco branch office in 1982, where he was responsible for sales and booking assignments in various territories. In 1987, he relocated to Los Angeles, where he was promoted to Los Angeles Branch Manager in 1989. He worked his way up to Vice President, Division Manager in 1990, then Senior Vice President of National Sales in 1993. In 1997, he was named Executive Vice President at the studio.
Carpou is Vice President of the Executive Committee and serves on the Board of Directors for Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.
