Adam Fogelson joining Robert Simonds’ new movie studio

Adam Fogelson, the former chairman of Universal Pictures, is joining the new movie studio led by producer Robert Simonds.

Fogelson will be chairman of the venture’s motion picture group, the studio said Wednesday. He will oversee production, marketing, distribution and home entertainment strategy for the studio’s films.

The new studio, backed by the investment company TPG Growth and the Chinese private equity firm Hony Capital, plans to produce and release up to 10 movies a year in with midrange budgets as major studios focus more on expensive franchise films.

The company’s movies are expected to cost $20 million to $60 million to make.

Universal Pictures forced out Fogelson last fall as part of a shakeup in which Jeff Shell was put in charge of the film studio. Fogelson had been Universal’s Chairman since 2009.

Fogelson is the most recent significant hire for the new studio, which doesn’t have an official name yet. Oren Aviv, the former chief marketing officer for 20th Century Fox Film, was named president and chief content officer for its movies division earlier this month.

“This is a monumental moment for our new company,” Simonds said in a statement. “Adam chose us over other extremely compelling offers because he recognizes the once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a modern, multimedia entertainment company from the ground up.”

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