David Maisel

For the American photographer and artist, see David Maisel (visual artist).
David Maisel
Alma mater Harvard University
Occupation entertainment executive

David Maisel is an American entertainment businessman best known for developing Marvel Studios production slate financing plan and for arranging the sale of Marvel Entertainment to The Walt Disney Company.

Life

Maisel attended Harvard University and earned an MBA. His first job was with Boston Consulting Group. Maisel was later employed at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and the Disney Co.[1] He joined CAA in 1994 as a corporate advisory agent working with Michael Ovitz, the agency's head. Masiel assisted, amongst other deal, Ovitz with Matsushita’s sale of MCA/Universal to Seagram in 1995. He followed Ovitz to the Disney Co. as director of corporate development and strategic planning while Ovitz served as president of the company for 18 months. With Ovitz leaving and purchasing a large stake in Livent, Masiel followed as president.[2]

Masiel stepped down as president along with its CEO of Livent on June 25, 1999.[3] From 1999 to 2001, Masiel was managing director of chello, a European broadband service provider. In October 2001, he switch his employment to Endeavor Talent Agency as corporate strategy and business development head.[2]

In 2004, Avi Arad introduced Maisel to Isaac Perlmutter who hired Maisel as Marvel Studios Chief Operating Officer to execute Maisel's plan to fund a movie production slate. The movies would be funded by loans backed by superhero movie rights. Maisel and Arad then clashed over how many movies and what characters to feature with Arad.[1] Maisel was moved to the studio's parent company, Marvel Enterprises, in September 2005 in the position of executive vice president of corporate development[4] while being vice chairman of Marvel Studios.[5] Arad left in May 2006 as Maisel received Perlmutter's support.[1] In September 2006, Maisel was appointed Executive Vice President, Office of the Chief Executive for Marvel Entertainment together with John Turitzin and Isaac Perlmutter (CEO).[5] He was named chairman of Marvel Studios in March 2007.[1] Maisel was first to inquire with Disney about any business ventures leading to the eventual merger. He left Marvel Entertainment upon Disney's acquisition of Marvel.[6]

In July 2011, Maisel was hired by Rovio Entertainment to lead its efforts to make an Angry Birds movie as special advisor.[7] In December 2012, Maisel was announced as the executive producer of the Angry Birds movie.[8]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Leonard, Devin (May 23, 2007). "Calling all superheroes". Fortune Magazine. Retrieved 2011-05-10.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Brodesser, Claude (October 2, 2001). "Maisel shifts to Endeavor". Variety. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  3. ↑ "2 Executives to Step Down at Ailing Livent". Los Angeles Times. Bloomberg News. June 15, 1999. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Exec makes Marvel move - Entertainment News, Exec Shuffle, Media". Variety. November 1, 2005. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Zeitchik, Steven (September 27, 2006). "Marvel lifts pair of execs". Daily Variety from HighBeam Research. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Marvel Studios' David Maisel to step down after Disney deal". Los Angeles Times. December 7, 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  7. ↑ "Angry Birds hires movie producer for 'future films'". BBC.co.uk. July 5, 2011.
  8. ↑ Graser, Marc (December 11, 2012). "‘Angry Birds’ movie taps ‘Despicable Me’ producer". Variety. Retrieved May 7, 2014.