Animation Studio Film Roman Names CEO; Plans Include Live-Action Shows
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Film Roman Inc., the North Hollywood animation studio that produces “The Simpsons” and other cartoon TV shows, named John Hyde as its new chief executive Friday.
Hyde, a 58-year-old television and film producer, will take over immediately and will also serve as the company’s president.
Hyde, former chief executive of MCEG Sterling Inc., a publicly traded entertainment company, said he plans to push the company beyond its signature cartoon business.
“Film Roman has proven with its successful animated series that it knows 12-to-34-year-olds,” Hyde said in a statement. “It’s time to deliver to that same audience unique live-action programming as well.”
Hyde replaces David Pritchard, whom the company dismissed in October. Film Roman’s stock price has languished in the $2 range for the last six months and the 330-employee company faces intensifying competition from much bigger studios such as Walt Disney Co. and Warner Bros. The stock closed Friday at $2.06, down 6 cents on Nasdaq.
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