Barry Meyer
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Barry M. Meyer (born November 28, 1946) is an American
television producer A television producer is a person who oversees one or more aspects of a television show, television program. Some producers take more of an executive role, in that they conceive new programs and pitch them to the television networks, but upon acce ...
who served as
chairman The chair, also chairman, chairwoman, or chairperson, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by members of the gro ...
of Warner Bros. Entertainment.


Early life

Born to a
Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
family in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
, the son of Perry Meyer and Lillian Katz Meyer. Meyer holds a
bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...
from the
University of Rochester The University of Rochester is a private university, private research university in Rochester, New York, United States. It was founded in 1850 and moved into its current campus, next to the Genesee River in 1930. With approximately 30,000 full ...
and a
Juris Doctor A Juris Doctor, Doctor of Jurisprudence, or Doctor of Law (JD) is a graduate-entry professional degree that primarily prepares individuals to practice law. In the United States and the Philippines, it is the only qualifying law degree. Other j ...
from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. He is a member of the bar in New York and was admitted to the practice of law in Ohio in 1967, however his Ohio license was suspended in 2005.


Warner Bros.

Meyer joined the Warner Bros. Inc. in 1971 as director of business affairs for Warner Bros. Television, following two and a half years in both the legal and business affairs departments of the ABC Television Network. In 1972, Meyer was named vice president of business affairs, Warner Bros. Television. In 1978, he became executive vice president for the television division and in 1984, he was promoted to executive vice president of Warner Bros. Inc., taking charge of all of the studio's television operations. In 1994, Meyer took on added responsibilities as chief operating officer, which included oversight of the company's general operations (including studio facilities, legal and business affairs, general administration, human resources, labor relations, strategic planning, real estate development and government affairs), as well as all of the Studio's television production and distribution operations (including Warner Bros. Television, Telepictures Productions, Warner Bros. Animation and the domestic and international television distribution divisions). Meyer was also an integral architect in the formation of The WB Television Network, which went on the air in January 1995 and played a similar role in the founding of The CW. Barry M. Meyer became chairman and chief executive officer of Warner Bros. on October 4, 1999 after having served as the studio's executive vice president and chief operating officer since April 1994. Under Meyer's leadership, Warner Bros. consistently ranked as one of the most profitable studios in the industry. In 2009, Warner Bros. Pictures' domestic division had its most successful year ever, and both the domestic and international division had their ninth consecutive billion dollar-plus years at the box office. In March 2013, Meyer stepped down as CEO of Warner Bros. and was succeeded by Kevin Tsujihara.


Other activities

Meyer often serves as a key advisor on industry-wide production, labor and regulatory issues. He is a member of the board of councilors of the USC School of Cinema-Television; a member of the board of directors of the Motion Picture Association of America; a member of the board of the Museum of Television & Radio; a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences; a member and former governor of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences; a member and past member of the board of the Hollywood Radio and Television Society; and is involved in numerous charitable and civic activities. Meyer was honored with the American Jewish Committee's 2006 Dorothy and Sherrill C. Corwin Human Relations Award for his many humanitarian efforts. Meyer has been on the
Activision Blizzard Activision Blizzard, Inc. is an American video game holding company based in Santa Monica, California. Activision Blizzard currently includes three operating units: Activision, Blizzard Entertainment and King (company), King. Founded in July 2 ...
board of directors since January 2014.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Meyer, Barry Living people 20th-century American Jews The CW executives Warner Bros. people 1946 births 21st-century American Jews