Kevin Tsujihara will become the first Asian American ever to run a major Hollywood Studio, reports the Los Angeles Times.
His appointment to Chairman was announced by Warner Bros after what the Times described as a “fiercely fought battle” for the studio’s top spot. Tsujihara is the grandson of Japanese immigrants and the son of a farmer. He is currently president of Warner Bros. successful home entertainment unit. He was named after a power sharing agreement with two other executives to determine who would succeed the retiring Barry Meyer.
“Change can be unnerving, change can be disconcerting,” Tsujihara, 48, said. “The utmost important thing is to safeguard what is most important and cherished here at Warner Bros.: our management team and our relationships with creative talent.”
The Times reported Tsujihara’s humble and low key style trumped the more aggressive styles of his two rivals.
“Everyone needs a leader, and Kevin was the person best equipped to unify the company at this time,” Meyer said in an interview. “We just thought he was the best choice for the whole company.”
