Kimmel International head Mark Lindsay has stepped down in an amicable agreement following a move by Sidney Kimmel Entertainment (SKE) to consolidate operations and move the foreign sales business to LA.

Lindsay decided to stay with his family in New York and pursue new opportunities after four successful years at the helm. Nick Meyer, who has resurfaced after he departed as president of Paramount Vantage last December, will handle all sales and servicing of the existing Kimmel International titles as well as future SKE projects through his new Sierra Pictures.

It is understood Kimmel International will continue to exist with a staff servicing relations between foreign buyers and Sierra Pictures, whose head will be familiar with many acquisitions executives from his days at Lionsgate, Sony and Vantage. Lindsay is assisting with the transition from New York.

The consolidation enables SKE to focus exclusively on its core business of developing, financing and producing films. President of creative affairs Bingham Ray, who has maintained a bicoastal status, will be spending more time in LA.

“We have tremendous gratitude and appreciation for Mark’s years of service in building KI into a preeminent sales and distribution outfit,” Kimmel said. “We are sorry to part ways and yet understand Mark’s desire to remain based on the East Coast. We wish him well in his new endeavours.”

“SKE is thrilled to announce our association with Nick and his new venture, Sierra Pictures, which will be housed at our SKE headquarters in Beverly Hills,” SKE president Jim Tauber said. “Nick has a stellar track record in the foreign sales business from Sony to Lionsgate and we couldn’t be more pleased that we can be a ground floor tenant in his new enterprise.”

“I couldn’t be happier starting things off with such a terrific, and prolific partner as Sidney Kimmel Entertainment,” Meyer said. “We look forward to a long and prosperous association together.”

SKE has financed and produced, both independently and with studio partners, 18 features since Kimmel founded the company in 2004. Recent releases include Management starring Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn; Adventureland co-produced with Miramax, Synecdoche, New York; Charlie Bartlett; and Death At A Funeral.

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