Skycity Cinemas Continues To Strengthen Team

17 October 2006

Skycity Cinemas Continues To Strengthen Management Team

SKYCITY Cinemas is growing its management team following full acquisition by SKYCITY Entertainment Group.

Joe Moodabe has been appointed to the position of Executive Chairman of the newly created SKYCITY Cinema Advisory Board. Previously CEO of SKYCITY Cinemas, Mr Moodabe will step down from the day-to-day management of the business, but will retain responsibility for programming, continuing to ensure a very high quality of film exhibition throughout cinemas nationwide.

SKYCITY Managing Director, Evan Davies, said Joe Moodabe had been at the heart of New Zealand cinema for over 40 years, and his experience in the development of the exhibition business was unequalled, a fact which had been recognised with a New Year honour last year.

“Joe Moodabe is synonymous with the cinema industry in New Zealand, and I look forward to SKYCITY Cinemas continuing to benefit from Joe’s considerable experience and expertise,” said Mr Davies.

Joe Moodabe, who has spent a lifetime in cinema management, said he was looking forward to stepping down from day to day operational management.

“I am looking forward to focussing on the programming side of the business, continuing to build on our strong relationships with film distributors and local producers, and retaining an overview of this exciting industry as chairman of the advisory board.

“SKYCITY Cinemas is now New Zealand’s largest cinema exhibitor, with a substantial interest in the Rialto and Fiji cinema circuit, and I’m proud to have played a part in building that. It’s been an exciting journey.

“Now with the integration of the cinema business into SKYCITY Entertainment Group, two very strong entertainment brands are being united,” says Joe Moodabe.

The SKYCITY Cinema Advisory Board will consist of Joe Moodabe, Executive Chairman, SKYCITY Managing Director Evan Davies, General Manager Matthew Liebmann, alongside other exhibition industry experts. The Advisory Board will meet regularly, to discuss the industry, exhibition trends and technology developments, and provide strategic input to the SKYCITY Cinema Group.

Matthew Liebmann has been recruited to the position of GM- SKYCITY Cinemas. Mr. Liebmann brings more than 12 years experience in the entertainment and media industry to the position, including six years in a variety of roles in cinema exhibition for Village Roadshow.

Most recently, Mr. Liebmann has been a Director of the Entertainment & Media practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Sydney, where he was a specialist entertainment and media consultant.

“I am very fortunate to work in an industry I feel passionate about,” says Mr. Liebmann. “I’m very excited about SKYCITY's commitment to entertainment and exhibition – their concept of creating a compelling customer experience is exactly what makes going to the movies special for me, and I know I am working with a very strong management team.”

Mr. Liebmann and his New Zealand-born wife are both looking forward to living and working in New Zealand.

ENDS

© Scoop Media