Nothing really, business as usual.
Seriously, there is a lot of change going on — although DC Comics is staying in New York, a lot of people are either leaving their jobs or being faced with a move to another coast. We’re not going to run all 80 — or however many it is — names, but some departments are newsworthy enough to be reported on.
Most, if not all, of DC’s senior VPs are leaving as part of the ongoing reorganization. Gregory Noveck left in August, and he’s being joined by SVP — Creative Director Richard Bruning, SVP – Marketing and Sales Steve Rotterdam and SVP – Brand Management Cheryl Rubin.
Bruning had worked for DC on and off since 1985, leaving in 1990 to start his own Brainstorm United design firm, but returning in 1996. He was instrumental in the design of the landmarks Watchmen and Dark Knight, and had overseen most of DC’s branding over the years, including the Vertigo and Zuda logos.
Rotterdam joined the company in 2007 after being a partner at the Eastwest Marketing Group. West Coast based John Rood’s title as Executive VP of Marketing, Sales and Business Development seemed to make Rotterdam’s position more of a duplication. We have still not received word on whether DC’s marketing and sales departments will stay on the east coast or move.
In her position, Rubin oversaw DC’s licensing and branding on toys, theme parks, films and the like, since joining the company in 1987. She also worked closely with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, another LA-based division. With these functions moving to Warner Bros itself, Rubin’s position has also become redundant.
In addition, Patrick Caldon, previously one of DC’s five heads as Executive VP Finance and Administration, is retiring and business functions are being moved to the West Coast. Caldon’s name was absent in the reorganization announcements, and this is why.
As all these departures show, moving DC’s business functions to the studio is going to have a huge impact on the way the characters are licensed and branded from here on out. In fact, with the DC-based films becoming an even bigger part of the Warner Bros. business plan, it’s evident that refining these areas is part of the motivation for the entire reorganization.
Any news at all about Karen Berger? Losing her would probably be the first step towards the death of Vertigo, which is pretty much all I read at DC these days.