MGM co-CEO Roger Birnbaum takes on exclusive producer role

Los Angeles, CA, United States (4E) – Roger Birnbaum, co-CEO and co-chairman of Metro Goldwyn Mayer, has decided to shift into an exclusive producer post, making Gary Barber sole CEO and chairman of MGM, the two announced Wednesday.

In a release posted on MGM’s official website, Birnbaum said, “Gary and I decided, 2 years ago, to accept the challenge of joining MGM and restoring the company to its rightful place in the industry. I am very proud of where MGM is today. I have been in the film business a long time, and my greatest passion has always been producing. Now is the time for me to return to what I love to do the most…producing films. And the fact that I will be producing for MGM, with Gary, my partner and friend will be very gratifying.”

Meanwhile, Barber had this to say, “I respect Roger’s decision to return to his passion of ‘hands on’ producing, and we are thrilled he has chosen to stay at MGM on an exclusive basis. We have been partners for almost 15 years and we have shared many successes together and I look forward to many more. I have the utmost confidence in Roger’s ability to produce many of our key upcoming productions, and I could not be happier that we will continue to work together.”

Birnbaum and Barber were appointed co-CEO and co-chairman of MGM in December 2010, upon its rise from bankruptcy. Together, they have taken on MGM to partner with Sony Pictures, Warner Brothers/New Line Cinema, Paramount Pictures and Fox Home Entertainment, among many others partnerships.

Birnbaum and Barber will continue to be partners in Spyglass Entertainment, a company they built in 1998, which has produced film ssuch as The Sixth Sense and Bruce Almighty.

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