TORONTO – TV and film producer Peace Arch Entertainment Group today announced the hiring of Michael Taylor as president of Peace Arch Television, Ltd.
Taylor, a 22-year television industry veteran, will spearhead the company’s expansion into representation of third-party television productions to the television and home video distribution markets, says the company.
His appointment to this new position follows Peach Arch’s recent announcement of a new equity investment led by entertainment industry veterans Jeff Sagansky, Kerry McCluggage and Drew Craig, former CEO of Craig Media, Taylor’s most recent employer.
In conjunction with the group’s investment in Peace Arch, Craig was also named chairman of its Board of Directors.
Craig Media was sold to CHUM Ltd. last year for $265 million.
At Craig Media, Taylor was responsible for sourcing and negotiating all television program supply agreements with major North American broadcasters and suppliers, television programming and scheduling, and sub-licensing program rights to third-party broadcasters.
"Having worked closely with Michael for several years and witnessed first-hand the professionalism he brought to his position at Craig Media, I am very pleased that he has agreed to join Peace Arch’s senior management team and oversee the launch of our newest division, Peace Arch Television,” said Drew Craig in a release. “Michael has been involved with some of the most successful and popular television programming throughout his career, and he has worked with and represented a diverse, who’s who list of companies – from ABC Television Network to the William Morris Agency."
Prior to his tenure at Craig Media, Taylor was CEO at Unified Entertainment (2001-2003), a full-service television distribution and co-production company, CEO of Ewireless Canada Corporation (1999-2001), the Canadian division of a Chicago-based company that created a patented, abbreviated wireless dialing service, and president/COO at Telegenic Communications (1983-1999), a full-service television program, merchandise and licensing entertainment company.
The executive additions and influx of capital will see Peace Arch move into the distribution of first-run TV.
"With the recent investment by accomplished entertainment industry executives Drew Craig, Jeff Sagansky and Kerry McCluggage in our company, the additional liquidity provided by our new credit facility, and now our diversification into distribution of first-run television programming under Michael Taylor’s leadership, we believe the pieces are coming into place for a very exciting future of growth and success at Peace Arch,” said company CEO Gary Howsam.
In July 2005, Peace Arch announced a new US$2 million revolving credit facility with a private financier that will be used to bridge finance preproduction costs across the company’s growing slate of feature film projects. In April, film and television producer Fred Fuchs ("Godfather III," "Bram Stoker’s Dracula") joined the company as executive vice-president, where he is responsible for all of Peace Arch’s dramatic television programming and digital media activities and is helping to expand the company’s feature film production and sales divisions. Peace Arch also has an award-winning, Vancouver-based reality and documentary-focused television production division, The Eyes Production Development Corp. ("Love it or Lose It," "Animal Miracles"), headed by Blair Reekie.
