VANCOUVER — Thunderbird Entertainment Group announced Monday it has appointed Marni Wieshofer as the lead director of its board of directors.
“I have had the privilege to work with Marni as our CFO when I launched Lionsgate over 20 years ago,” said Frank Giustra, major shareholder and board member of Thunderbird, in the news release. “I know firsthand that her experience and reputation in the media industry in the United States and internationally is second to none. I am so pleased to pass the role of Lead Director to Marni because the Company will benefit immensely from her expertise during this period of growth for both Thunderbird and the industry.”
Wieshofer’s background includes serving as the CFO and executive vice-president of corporate development at Lionsgate Entertainment where she oversaw the company’s mergers, acquisitions and other strategic financial initiatives, including the acquisitions and integration of Trimark Pictures, Artisan Entertainment and Redbus Films Distribution U.K. to name a few, as well as the sale of Lionsgate Studios and the Canadian distribution business.
Her background also includes being a managing director in Houlihan Lokey’s TMT Corporate Finance Group, based out of Los Angeles, providing M&A, capital markets, financial restructuring and financial advisory services. Before joining Houlihan Lokey, Wieshofer was a managing director at MESA, a boutique advisory investment bank, where she spearheaded investment banking, strategy and valuation engagements for companies throughout the media space. Prior to MESA, Wieshofer was the senior vice-president of mergers and acquisitions and CFO at Media Rights Capital. There she was responsible for identifying and developing strategic entertainment ventures and acquisitions as well as corporate finance. Wieshofer’s experience also includes prominent roles at Coopers & Lybrand Chartered Accountants and Alliance Atlantis Communications.
“I feel honoured and humbled to be adding Marni to the Board in such a pivotal role at this time in the company’s evolution. In building teams across many sectors, I live by the approach of surrounding an organization with the absolute best and brightest in their respective roles,” said Brian Paes-Braga, chairman of Thunderbird, in the news release. “Marni fills this approach perfectly. Her financial ability, deal flow, deep industry relationships combined with expertise in the United States is invaluable for Thunderbird at this time.”
“I am delighted to join the Board and have the opportunity to work alongside Frank Giustra again,” said Wieshofer, in the news release. “I look forward to working with Brian, Jenn and the entire team to build on what they have accomplished to date. Together, we will further Thunderbird’s focus on developing global brands, creating strong industry relationships, producing quality programming, cultivating a true sense of team, and investing in owned-IP.”
Francesco Aquilini, a Thunderbird board member since 2014, elected to not stand for re-election this year, in order to permit him more time to pursue his many other business endeavours. Thunderbird said in the news release it would like to thank Aquilini for his many contributions as a board member and for his unwavering financial support during a crucial phase of Thunderbird’s growth.
Thunderbird also announced Monday the results of voting that took place at the company’s annual general meeting on December 10. In addition to re-appointing PricewaterhouseCoopers as the auditor for the company and re-approving the company’s stock option plan, voting also resulted in the following individuals being elected to serve as directors of the company:
- Timothy Gamble
- Frank Giustra
- Frank Holmes
- Azim Jamal
- Jennifer Twiner McCarron
- Mark Miller
- Brian Paes-Braga
- Paul Sparkes
