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20th Century Fox CCO Chris Petrikin to Exit Studio

20th Century Fox CCO Chris Petrikin to Exit Studio

Chris Petrikin, chief communications officer for 20th Century Fox, will exit the film studio at the end of 2016, Fox announced Thursday.

Petrikin plans to form a strategic communications and crisis management consultancy. Until his exit, he will continue working with the studio, which set to be a client of his unnamed new firm.

Petrikin’s company will focus on corporate brand development, crisis communications and strategy for clients in the entertainment, media, technology and philanthropy realms.

Also Read: 'Miracles From Heaven' Producer DeVon Franklin Signs Overall Deal With 20th Century Fox (Exclusive)

His departure marks the end of an era as other top executives have left the studio in the past months as well. In June, Fox announced an executive shakeup, with Stacey Snider ascending to the top film job as CEO and Jim Gianopulos transitioned to a corporate advisory role when his contract expired in September. He served as co-chair of Fox’s filmed entertainment division alongside Tom Rothman from 2000 through 2012, when he became the sole chief.

In August, Fox’s worldwide head of marketing and distribution for its film division, Paul Hanneman, decided not to renew his contract and left the studio in October. Hanneman was set to revert back to a role overseeing international distribution.

Also Read: Fox Film Head Jim Gianopulos Will Leave Studio on September 1

Petrikin joined Fox in February 2007 from William Morris Agency to oversee all corporate communications, media relations, trade advertising and awards campaigns.

He had joined William Morris in 2002 after working as a reporter and editor for publications such Variety and Inside Magazine, as well as contributing to the Los Angeles Times, GQ, Esquire and Salon.

“For the last decade, my Fox colleagues have been a second family to me,” Petrikin said in a statement. “I will miss working alongside all of these incredibly talented people, with whom I have had the pleasure of sharing a front row seat to witness groundbreaking filmmaking and a transformation of the industry.”

Fox chairman and CEO Snider added, “Chris’ impact at Fox over so many years is almost impossible to measure. He has guided our communications strategies across all of the areas of our business. His position requires coalition building, focus and the ability to be calm in a storm. We wish him all the best in his new endeavor and expect to be clients and beneficiaries of his tremendous experience in the future.”

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