DC Entertainment’s announcement of its new executive team, including replacements for departing publisher Paul Levitz (see “New DC Executive Team Announced”), was accompanied by a series of posts on DC’s The Source blog. Here are the quotes we found the most informative about the changes taking place at DC from each of the posts.
CEO Diane Nelson:
Paul [Levitz] has continued to operate as Publisher of DC Comics over the last five months, as I took time to learn about the organization, consider how I want to structure the company for the future and who I want to run it with me.
In terms of possible alternate candidates for the Publisher role, some very qualified names have been talked about and raised. Each have tremendous merit in his or her own right, but none other than this team were approached or considered seriously. Jeff Robinov’s and my interest in this specific combination of people – with their highly complementary talent – has been in play since very early on in this transition period. And our decision to pursue assembling this specific team was made as early as mid-November.
Jim Lee…is fully adept at and experienced at building a publishing program on his own, and will partner with Dan in doing so, but he also brings an affinity and passion for digital that will help the DC Comics business move aggressively into the future.
Dan DiDio… knows how to manage the day-in, day-out mechanics of the publishing program, with his own strong creative sense, and he has great experience from prior to DC in adapting stories for other platforms.
Geoff Johns… will be instrumental in establishing the tone and culture of creative risk and business growth that we intend for DC Entertainment. And he will ensure the integrity of how we bring these characters and stories to fans across every entertainment platform.
John Rood is a long-time colleague and friend. I have been looking for a way to work with him again ever since we met during his first stint at Warner Bros. 10 years ago…. John will be a passionate, innovative marketer of the DC Comics publishing program, while he helps us build DC Entertainment and its library with internal divisions across Time Warner and Warner Bros.
Co-Publishers Jim Lee and Dan DiDio:
Our mission is to reinvent DC Comics to prepare it for the challenges and opportunities in this quickly changing world.
Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns:
Under the leadership of Jim and Dan, I’ll continue writing and giving my creative input as I have been in comic books. But expanding onto that, Diane’s asked me to take our comic book world, embrace it (as I do) and use it to lead the creative charge on bringing it all to film, toys, television, video games, animation and beyond. The Justice Society appearing on Smallville was only the beginning.
And now there’s Diane [Nelson]. Someone whose passion and understanding of the value of the creative process is undoubtedly going to lead DC Entertainment into an incredible new era….
I have to say something about Jeff [Robinov] too. He’s made Warner Brothers the most successful and artist-friendly studio out there and that will carry over into DC Entertainment.
EVP Sales, Marketing, and Business Development John Rood:
I’m a suit…. It’s this suit’s extreme pleasure to join the DC sales, marketing, and business development team. I’ve known [SVP Brand Management] Cheryl [Rubin] and [SVP Sales and Marketing] Steve [
I am told I was hired because of my experience in entertainment marketing - to kids and families, to young women, to the urban market, across multimedia, with trade partners, with a limited budget, etc.
I see no publisher serving the needs of the Direct Market better, and no publisher with a more extensive catalogue of books and trades in the mass market channel. These imperatives are not possible without our cherished retailer partners, with whom I look forward to working most closely.
What has kept me from a good night sleep so far is the issue of Balance – balancing what’s best for the traditional business channels with what will be best for the future of the business and the art form, balancing what superserves the current superfans with what will serve an entirely new generation of fans, balancing promotion with profit, etc.
You’ll soon see us at DC Entertainment making big news in Digital, in the short- and long-term, from mobile strategy to a suite of publishing products. Digital is a dialogue, so I look forward to keeping in touch with you during this crucial evolution.
EVP Finance and Administration Pat Caldon:
Way back in 1985, I joined DC Comics as the company’s Controller. Obviously, a lot has changed in our industry in that time. …[I]n appreciation of the past, I’d like to offer a public tip of the cap to my longtime colleague and boss, Paul Levitz, as he returns to his writing roots and to the adventures of the 31st Century. Under his leadership, DC Comics has been an industry innovator and I’m proud to have been part of the magic of these past twenty five years. Thank you, Paul. Here’s to your future—and the future of DCE and DC Comics.