ROBERT READ PROMOTED TO
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, WORLDWIDE HD MARKETING FOR
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT AND
UNIVERSAL PICTURES INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT
Universal City, California, 2010 – Robert Read has been named Senior Vice President,
Worldwide HD Marketing for Universal Studios Home Entertainment (USHE) and Universal
Pictures International Entertainment (UPIE), it was jointly announced today by Hilary Hoffman,
Executive Vice President, Marketing, USHE and Melanie Nicholas, Senior Vice President,
Marketing, Sales & Licensees, UPIE. Mr. Read previously served as Vice President, HD Strategic
Marketing, Specialty Product & USHE Franchise Management. He will continue to be based in Los
Angeles.
In his newly expanded role, Mr. Read will oversee Universal’s high-definition initiatives worldwide,
serving as global strategist of all new release, catalog and television offerings on Blu-rayTM as well as
on other new formats including 3-D and digital home entertainment media. Robert will also
continue in his current role as Brand Marketing lead on all Focus Features and Rogue Pictures
product domestically.
Additionally, he will continue in his leadership capacity on numerous Digital Entertainment Group
(DEG) marketing committees, including his role as Chairman of the Blu-ray Core Marketing
Team and his participation on the 3D and DEG Europe committees.
“Robert’s aggressive leadership in the Blu-ray arena to date has helped Universal make
significant inroads into the format,†said Ms. Hoffman. “During his six years with Universal, he
has proven to be an extraordinarily effective marketer with great instincts and superior
management skills and is the ideal executive to step into this critical role to further steer our Hi-
Def marketing strategy domestically.â€
Ms. Nicholas added: “After spending two-and-a-half years with us at UPIE in London, Robert
has been a valued member of Universal’s Home Entertainment International marketing team and
we are delighted with his new role. Robert’s wealth of international marketing experience and his
knowledge of the global Hi-Def landscape will ensure that UPIE will continue to be at the
leading edge of the format.”
Mr. Read joined USHE in 2004 as Vice President, Brand Marketing. In 2006, he then relocated to
London to serve for two-and-a-half years with UPIE as Vice President, Brand Marketing for
Catalog, TV on DVD, Special Interest and Studio Canal before returning to USHE in 2008.
Prior to Universal, Mr. Read served as Executive Director, Worldwide Strategic Marketing for
Warner Bros. Consumer Products. He also held marketing positions at Mattel and Viacom
Consumer Products. Mr. Read began his entertainment career as company manager at Tokyo-based
Two-One Productions.
Mr. Read earned a BA from the University of California, Los Angeles, in Theater, Film and
Television as well as an MBA from the University of Southern California.
Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures International Entertainment are
units of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal
Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies
in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global
audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal
Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment
networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading
television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by
General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.
