Thomopoulos Appointed to Key Post at UA

Anthony D. Thomopoulos, 47, former president of ABC Broadcast Group, has been named president of the motion picture and television groups of the new United Artists and a member of the board of directors.

The announcement Tuesday by Jerry Weintraub came eight days after Weintraub was named chairman and chief executive of UA. That, coincidentally, was the same day Thomopoulos announced his resignation after 12 years with ABC.

Thomopoulos said in a telephone interview of the close timing: “This opportunity came up for him and then for me.” He noted that he and Weintraub have been friends for 20 years and have talked before about working together when the “right time” came.

When he quit ABC, effective the same day, Thomopoulos said he was leaving in anticipation of a “new era” at the network and a restructuring of the company after Capital Cities Communications completes its friendly $3.5-billion takeover in early 1986.

He also mentioned his desire to relocate to Los Angeles, where his wife, Cristina Ferrare, is co-host of “A.M. Los Angeles” on KABC-TV.

United Artists is to be sold to financier Kirk Kerkorian, controlling shareholder of MGM/UA Entertainment Co., at the completion of MGM’s purchase by Turner Broadcasting System.

Within the last week, Weintraub has announced the appointment of his longtime attorney, Kenneth Kleinberg, and MGM/UA Executive Vice President Sidney H. Sapsowitz as UA directors and members of its senior management team.

In Tuesday’s announcement, Weintraub mentioned his long friendship with Thomopoulos, adding that he is “especially pleased that (Thomopoulos) is going to play a key role in my senior management team.” He described Thomopoulos as a man “whose foresight, imagination, creativity and executive abilities have made him one of the most important leaders in our industry.”