Viz Media Expands European Operations and Promotes Key Executive
San Francisco, CA, December 21, 2006 – Viz Media, LLC (Viz Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, is pleased to announce the relocation of its European operations from Amsterdam to Paris. The new European company will be called Viz Media Europe, S.A.R.L (VME) and will officially open on January 15, 2007.
John Easum has been appointed President/Gérant of VME and will oversee all of Viz Media's European, Middle Eastern and African operations from Paris. Easum will be charged with growing VME to become a dominant player in the rapidly expanding European manga and anime markets. He previously held the position of Executive Vice President of Viz Media, supervising its North American sales and marketing operations. Easum has lived and worked in France, speaks fluent French and Japanese, and has extensive media business and management expertise. He plans to draw on his experience to increase VME's market share and raise visibility and awareness of Japanese content across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Easum explains, “It is a great privilege to be entrusted with the objective of leading and growing our European business. Over the years, Viz Media has enjoyed close relationships with many key partners in Europe. By having a stronger local presence and infrastructure based in Paris, we look forward to nurturing these relationships while also strengthening the bridge between our Japanese and North American counterparts. Anime and manga are now truly a global enterprise and Viz Media and VME look forward to bringing the best content to its fans through multiple distribution platforms.”
Viz Media Europe handles some of the most popular manga and animation properties owned by Viz Media's parent companies, Shueisha, Inc. and Shogakukan, Inc., the largest publishing houses in Japan, and Sho-Pro (Japan). The company offers a diverse cross section of both shonen manga, aimed at male audiences, and shôjo manga, aimed primarily at female readers. Current VME manga properties include BLEACH, KEKKAISHI, DEATH NOTE, and M.A.R. Current VME animated properties include BLEACH, M.A.R, ZOIDS GENESIS and HONEY & CLOVER.
About Viz Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Viz Media, LLC (Viz Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan's largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha, Inc., Shogakukan, Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co, Ltd. (Sho-Pro Japan), Viz Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs, audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages.
Contact Viz Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.
John Easum has been appointed President/Gérant of VME and will oversee all of Viz Media's European, Middle Eastern and African operations from Paris. Easum will be charged with growing VME to become a dominant player in the rapidly expanding European manga and anime markets. He previously held the position of Executive Vice President of Viz Media, supervising its North American sales and marketing operations. Easum has lived and worked in France, speaks fluent French and Japanese, and has extensive media business and management expertise. He plans to draw on his experience to increase VME's market share and raise visibility and awareness of Japanese content across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Easum explains, “It is a great privilege to be entrusted with the objective of leading and growing our European business. Over the years, Viz Media has enjoyed close relationships with many key partners in Europe. By having a stronger local presence and infrastructure based in Paris, we look forward to nurturing these relationships while also strengthening the bridge between our Japanese and North American counterparts. Anime and manga are now truly a global enterprise and Viz Media and VME look forward to bringing the best content to its fans through multiple distribution platforms.”
Viz Media Europe handles some of the most popular manga and animation properties owned by Viz Media's parent companies, Shueisha, Inc. and Shogakukan, Inc., the largest publishing houses in Japan, and Sho-Pro (Japan). The company offers a diverse cross section of both shonen manga, aimed at male audiences, and shôjo manga, aimed primarily at female readers. Current VME manga properties include BLEACH, KEKKAISHI, DEATH NOTE, and M.A.R. Current VME animated properties include BLEACH, M.A.R, ZOIDS GENESIS and HONEY & CLOVER.
About Viz Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Viz Media, LLC (Viz Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan's largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha, Inc., Shogakukan, Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co, Ltd. (Sho-Pro Japan), Viz Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs, audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages.
Contact Viz Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.
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