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UPDATE: We’re hearing that meetings are ongoing at DC, and not everyone is out of the woods.

The key takeaway from a human standpoint from the press release below is that administrative functions are being moved to the West Coast. That’s dozens of people. Also left unsaid is that marketing and Bob Wayne’s team of sales reps could possibly be moving. So a lot of people are still potentially out of work in a year’s time.

We’ll keep updating this story throughout the day as we hear more.

PR just went out announcing the organizational changes. In a surprise move, at least based on ongoing chatter, editorial is staying in New York…but digital, multimedia and administrative are going to LA.

DC Entertainment, as part of its ongoing strategy to integrate the DC Comics business, brand and characters into Warner Bros. Entertainment’s content and distribution operations, will relocate its business functions related to and supporting multi-media and digital content production to Burbank, California.  DCE’s publishing operations will remain in New York, continuing DC Comics’ 75-plus year legacy of leadership in the comic book arena.  These announcements were made today by Diane Nelson, President, DC Entertainment


“These organizational changes reinforce the strengths of DC’s greatest legacies – most importantly its people and its creative talent – and offer greater opportunity for maximum growth, success and efficiency in the future,” said Nelson.  “Our two offices will stretch and build their respective areas of focus, while prioritizing and aggressively striving to connect and cooperate more strongly than ever before between them and with their colleagues at Warner Bros.”


        
“This strategic business realignment allows us to fully integrate and expand the DC brand in feature films as well as across multiple distribution platforms of Warner Bros. and Time Warner,” said Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, to whom Nelson reports.  “We are creating a seamless, cohesive unit that will bring even more great characters and content to consumers everywhere.” 

   
The relocation process is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2011, with DCE’s businesses related to the development and production of feature films, television, digital media, video games and consumer products as well as the company’s administrative functions relocating to a Warner Bros.-managed property in Burbank, CA.  DC Comics’ publishing operations, which have been the bedrock since the company’s inception with an annual output of over 1,100 comic books, 300 graphic novels and MAD magazine, will remain in New York.  The bi-coastal business units will work more closely together to continue elevating the powerful DCE brand.


 
DC Entertainment was founded in September 2009 to fully realize the power and value of the DC Comics brand and characters across all media and platforms.  The senior management team responsible for shepherding DCE through this reorganization is comprised of Nelson, Geoff Johns, Chief Creative Officer; John Rood, Executive Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Business Development; and Jim Lee and Dan DiDio, Co-Publishers of DC Comics.  

1 COMMENT

  4. I did a line of meetings in Burbank in the early 2000s. I had a pitch at Cartoon Network, ran by the WB offices and saw the Disney studios and between saw the line for the Tonight Show — all this while hanging out with my agents and friend, Brian Swenlin; writer for Kim Possible. It’s a mecca of film / TV / Animation. Moving DC to that hotbed is a not a bad move at all. Good for them.

    However, seeing people out of work, who either cannot relocate or will be replaced does indeed suck. I hope they find their feet, and I hope the NY division / editorial stays solid.

  5. I think it’s a good move to keep publishing in NYC; a very real concern IF publishing had been moved to LA, is losing some or many senior editors who chose to stay in New York…and go work for Marvel. That is, if Marvel could’ve made room for them…

  7. I never know what to make of these types of corporate decisions (not that it’s my place to, anyway). All I know from my own experience in the corporate world is that even when functional groups are split between different wings or floors of the same building, there’s an implicit “us and them” mentality that develops. Or worse, an “us vs. them” mentality, although that tends to run along the lines of slaes/marketing vs. creative/product development.

    In any case, I wish DC the best of luck. Hopefully the bi-coastal arrangement will work for them.

    (And on a purely selfish note, I’m so glad Editorial is staying in New York, since I just sold my first story to DC and would hate for Mike Carlin to move, or worse yet, leave DC! I know, I know, it’s selfish, but hey, it all comes down to the editors you know and have a good working relationship with…)

  8. My proposal to split the difference and set up shop in bargain-priced Michigan (or heck, anywhere with an affordable cost of living, broadband, and an airport) apparently fell on deaf ears.

  10. I think they should’ve moved the whole DC kit and kaboodle to the West Coast…let Marvel have NY.

  11. Anyone know about how many employees DC has in its New York office anyway? 100? 200? 1000? I’m just trying to get a handle on contextualizing the scope of this staffing news…