MUMBAI: Robert Read has been named senior vice president, worldwide HD marketing for Universal Studios Home Entertainment (USHE) and Universal Pictures International Entertainment (UPIE).
Read previously served as vice president, HD strategic marketing, specialty product & USHE Franchise Management. He will continue to be based in Los Angeles.
Read will oversee Universal’s high-definition initiatives worldwide, serving as global strategist of all new release, catalog and television offerings on Blu-ray as well as on other new formats including 3-D and digital home entertainment media. Robert will also continue in his current role as Brand Marketing lead on all Focus Features and Rogue Pictures product domestically.
Additionally, he will continue in his leadership capacity on numerous Digital Entertainment Group (DEG) marketing committees, including his role as chairman of the Blu-ray Core Marketing Team and his participation on the 3D and DEG Europe committees.
USHE executive vice president, marketing Hilary Hoffman said, "Robert’s aggressive leadership in the Blu-ray arena to date has helped Universal make significant inroads into the format. During his six years with Universal, he has proven to be an extraordinarily effective marketer with great instincts and superior management skills and is the ideal executive to step into this critical role to further steer our Hi-Def marketing strategy domestically."
UPIE senior vice president, marketing, sales and licensees Melanie Nicholas added, "After spending two-and-a-half years with us at UPIE in London, Robert has been a valued member of Universal’s Home Entertainment International marketing team and we are delighted with his new role. Robert’s wealth of international marketing experience and his knowledge of the global Hi-Def landscape will ensure that UPIE will continue to be at the leading edge of the format."
Read joined USHE in 2004 as Vice President, Brand Marketing. In 2006, he then relocated to London to serve for two-and-a-half years with UPIE as Vice President, Brand Marketing for Catalog, TV on DVD, Special Interest and Studio Canal before returning to USHE in 2008.
