أغر؟´«أ½

أغر؟´«أ½ Worldwide has announced that Paul Dempsey, أغر؟´«أ½ Worldwide's Managing Director for أغر؟´«أ½ Entertainment, today replaced Richard Green, who has left the company, as 2|entertain's Chief Executive. Dempsey will take on the role in addition to his current post as أغر؟´«أ½ Entertainment MD at the commercial arm of the corporation.

2|entertain was created in July 2004 as a 60:40 joint venture with Woolworths Group, combining the former VCI video/DVD, music and TV production business with أغر؟´«أ½ Worldwide's video publishing arm. Since late last year, أغر؟´«أ½ Worldwide has been in negotiation with both Woolworths and subsequently their administrators to acquire the outstanding 40% stake in the business.

Dempsey was appointed to أغر؟´«أ½ Worldwide's Board last December and oversees أغر؟´«أ½ Audiobooks, Audio & Music (comprising music licensing, publishing and content development) and 2|entertain. He also represents أغر؟´«أ½ Worldwide's interests in its joint ventures with Random House (أغر؟´«أ½ Books) and Pearson Education (أغر؟´«أ½ Active), taking a seat on the board of all joint ventures managed within the أغر؟´«أ½ Entertainment business.

Commenting on the new role, Dempsey said: "2|entertain is a terrific British-owned company producing some of the most popular and highest quality DVDs around, including the majority of the أغر؟´«أ½ catalogue. Although we are still negotiating terms for the sale of the outstanding 40% stake of 2|entertain, my arrival as Chief Executive is to ensure that the business is in the best possible shape when full أغر؟´«أ½ Worldwide ownership occurs."

Prior to joining أغر؟´«أ½ Worldwide, Dempsey's career was in sales and marketing and included eight years at Mars Confectionery followed by two years as Sales Director of Frontline Ltd, أغر؟´«أ½ Worldwide's magazine distribution partnership with H Bauer and Haymarket. He joined أغر؟´«أ½ Worldwide in 1998 as UK Sales Director and became Managing Director of أغر؟´«أ½ Audiobooks in 2001. In 2007 he was given responsibility for أغر؟´«أ½ Worldwide's Audio & Music business which was established to work closely with its counterpart, the أغر؟´«أ½'s Audio & Music division to commercially exploit their programming, archive and brands.

NOTES TO EDITORS
About 2|entertain
2 entertain is the UK's leading global entertainment player, 2|entertain consists of three divisions: 2|entertain video, Demon Records and Banana Split Productions. 2|entertain was created in July 2004 as a joint venture with Woolworths Group, combining the former VCI video/DVD, music and TV production business with أغر؟´«أ½ Worldwide's video publishing arm.

Philip Fleming