COMPANY TOWN ANNEX

Universal Production Chief Departs: Hal Lieberman, president of production for Universal Pictures since mid-1994, is leaving to form his own production firm. Universal, a unit of Seagram Co.’s MCA Inc. subsidiary, said it already has entered into a “multiyear production pact” with Lieberman’s new firm. His successor at Universal was not immediately named. Lieberman--who first joined the studio in 1987--oversaw Universal’s production of such box-office hits as “Apollo 13,” “The Nutty Professor” and “Fried Green Tomatoes.” He was named production chief to succeed Casey Silver, now chairman of MCA’s Motion Picture Group.