Lionsgate UK CEO Zygi Kamasa signs new deal

Lionsgate UK CEO Zygi Kamasa has signed a long-term agreement to stay at the company and has taken on the role of CEO of Lionsgate’s European office.

In his expanded role Kamasa will spearhead Lionsgate’s strategic growth initiatives and new business development across Europe, including potential coproduction arrangements, M&A initiatives and entry into new lines of business.

Lionsgate UK recently expanded its distribution slate to include Summit as well as Lionsgate releases (for Summit titles produced after July 2015). 

Lionsgate has also relocated its international sales and distribution headquarters to London.

“Zygi is one of the entrepreneurial executives playing a leadership role in moving Lionsgate forward around the world,” said Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer. “He and his team have grown Lionsgate UK into a vibrant and diversified company, and his expanded mandate for Europe underscores our commitment to continue building Lionsgate into a next generation global content leader.”

Lionsgate UK has achieved more than 150 top ten box office hits in the territory, including the first three instalments of The Hunger Games franchise, a flagship series for the indie-major.

British films backed by the UK arm include Bend it Like Beckham, Lasse Hallstrom’s Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, The Railway Man, and upcoming A Little Chaos, directed by Alan Rickman and starring Kate Winslet.

“I’m delighted to continue growing our business within the entrepreneurial and forward-looking culture that Jon, Michael, Steve and the rest of the Lionsgate team have created,” said Kamasa. 

“Lionsgate’s emergence as a content leader with global scope positions us to continue building our portfolio of production and distribution businesses in the U.K. as well as exploring strategic opportunities across the European continent.”