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After spending more than two decades at 20th Century Fox, marketing chief Tony Sella is parting ways with the film studio. Chairman Jim Gianopulos announced he was leaving Friday in an email to staff, noting that Sella will remain a creative consultant over the next few months.
Sella — who has long been a polarizing figure – has served as co-president of domestic marketing since 2002. For much of that time, he ran the department with Pamela Levine; she was succeeded by Oren Aviv in January 2011.
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Last week, Aviv was shown the door as part of a major restructuring that put international presidents Paul Hanneman and Tomas Jegeus in charge of worldwide marketing and distribution. Sella’s job was safe because of his long tenure, but last Friday he told Hanneman and Jegeus, to whom he now reports, that he was resigning. Sella previously reported to Gianopulos.
Aviv and Sella, considered the creative brains, never got along and often pointed the finger at each other when a film didn’t work.
Sella joined Fox in 1991 as a senior vice president of creative advertising, quickly rising up through the ranks. He began his career in 1980 at Diener Bates in New York before going to work for Disney’s film marketing division.
Below is Gianopulos’ email to the staff:
I am saddened to advise that after 23 years at Fox, Tony Sella has decided to leave when his current contract expires in a few months. I know many of us share in the disappointment to lose from our ranks a longtime friend and colleague like Tony, and we will miss the day-to-day interaction with him. As a professional, I’ll miss his unique creative genius and style, and his commitment to his work and the company’s success. As his friend, I’ll miss his humor, his generosity of spirit, and the fun of hanging around his office.
For Tony though, I’m happy that after years of many successful but intense marketing campaigns and stressful deadlines, he will now have the chance to explore other passions and opportunities, and continue to embrace his artistic spirit. In the interim, I’m pleased that for the next few months Tony will be remaining with Fox as a creative advisor, and I look forward to calling on his wise counsel in the months ahead.
Whatever he chooses to do next, we all know that Tony will commence this new chapter of his life with the same passion and dedication he’s displayed during his time at Fox. Working alongside him has been an honor and a privilege, and I know you join me in wishing him the best in all that lies ahead.
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