DreamWorks Animation SKG today announced that Shark Tale producer Bill Damaschke and production operations head John Batter have been promoted to co-presidents of production for feature animation. Damaschke, who has been with DreamWorks since its inception in 1995 and has worked on virtually all of its animated features, was also named to the newly created position of president of live theatrical.
‘I’m thrilled that these two talented individuals with very complimentary backgrounds and areas of expertise will co-lead our production efforts together,” says Ann Daly, chief operating officer for DreamWorks Animation. ‘With our upcoming slate of films and the launch of our 3-D initiatives, we are very fortunate to have Bill and John to help lead us during this very exciting time at the company.’
Damaschke joined DreamWorks as production coordinator on The Prince of Egypt and was named head of creative production and development in 2005. In his new role, he will continue to oversee creative production and development for the studio, and is currently involved with the upcoming animated films Kung Fu Panda, Monsters vs. Aliens, How to Train Your Dragon and Madagascar 2. He will also oversee all live theatrical production, beginning with Shrek the Musical, which is slated to open on Broadway as early as 2008.
Batter has also been a DreamWorks employee since 1995, joining as CFO of DreamWorks Interactive and later serving as CFO for PDI/DreamWorks from 1997 to 2000. He left PDI/DreamWorks in 2000 to join Electronic Arts, where he held a number of management positions including group studio general manager and general manager of EA Mobile. He returned to the DreamWorks Animation fold in 2006.
Win a Funko X Lilo & Stitch Prize Pack!
