Screenvision, one of the two big cinema rep firms, named Travis Reid its new chief executive officer. Reid's appointment Thursday (Oct. 14) was announced with the closing of Shamrock Capital Growth Fund's acquisition of the company.
Reid replaces Matthew Kearney, who along with two other top executives exited Screenvision without explanation last April.
In the theatrical exhibition business for more than 30 years, Reid has been CEO and chairman of Digital Cinema Implementation Partners since March 2007. Prior to DCIP he was president and CEO of Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corp., purchased by AMC Entertainment in 2005.
One of Reid's priorities will be to complete Screenvision's conversion to digital, something he knows a lot about from his years at DCIP (formed by AMC Entertainment, Cinemark and Regal Entertainment Group to take the motion picture industry from film to digital technology).
"We need to make sure our network capitalizes on the conversion to digital," Reid said.
Reid also wants to increase Screenvision's content deals with entertainment companies. But overall, Reid believes the company, with a network of 15,000 screens in 2,500 theater locations, is in good shape. "I don't need to walk in with a list of items, just work with the current management team. Growth has been well managed. We have more than 40 percent of the market and that's good for any business," Reid said.