Qintex Unit’s Chief Named UA President

David Evans, president and chief executive of Beverly Hills-based Qintex Entertainment, has been named to those positions at its successor, United Artists Corp. Australian-owned Qintex is acquiring the major Hollywood studio as part of the $1-billion purchase of MGM/UA Communications, which will be completed this summer.

Evans, who came to this country from Australia five years ago, also named four key executives at UA. Not surprisingly, three of the appointees are from the MGM/UA ranks and one is from Qintex. All have participated in managing UA since the acquisition was announced March 31, the announcement said.

Richard Berger, president of the MGM/UA film group, holds the same title at UA. Steve Mills, formerly senior executive vice president-programming at Qintex, has been named president of the UA television production group. David M. Forbes, MGM/UA marketing and distribution president, moves to the same position at UA. John Goldwyn, previously MGM/UA executive vice president, was promoted to president-production of UA’s film group.

Qintex Entertainment Chairman Christopher Skase, who controls its parent, Australian TV broadcaster Qintex Group, signed a definitive agreement to buy MGM/UA from its 82% owner, Kirk Kerkorian. The agreement calls for Kerkorian to buy back the MGM name and some other assets for $250 million. Kerkorian has said he will make films with a new MGM.

As a result of the deal, Kerkorian also will be Skase’s business associate. He is to invest $75 million in Qintex group. Further, UA will distribute films made by the new MGM, as well as from the 34-title, post-1986 MGM library. Qintex will own the UA library, including the 1989 Academy Award-winning “Rain Man.” Turner Broadcasting purchased the old MGM library in 1985 from Kerkorian.