U.K. Film and TV Production to Continue as Chief Medical Officer Warns of ‘Worst Weeks of Pandemic’

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterWarner Chappell Music, the publishing arm of Warner Music Group, has named David Woirhaye as the company’s new executive vice president and global chief financial officer, effectively immediately. In his new role, he will report into Guy Moot, Co-Chair and CEO and Carianne Marshall, Co-Chair and COO.

Channel 4 has promoted its programming boss Ian Katz to chief content officer in a sweeping reorganization aimed at helping the UK broadcaster secure 40% of its £985 million ($1.3 billion) revenue from sources other than traditional TV advertising by 2025.

As Hollywood heads back into production, some are finding prohibitive costs for ensuring Covid-19 safety. New service companies are stepping up to fill the need for reasonably priced, fast testing of crew and casts.

coronavirus pandemic, as the grim death toll passed 100,000 people today.

Also Read: Ron Howard to Direct Biopic on Master Chinese Pianist Lang Lang“Ron and Brian have built one of the most admired, truly creatively-led companies in the business and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed our partnership in documentaries over the years,” Wilkes said in a statement.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film WriterBrian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment has promoted Justin Wilkes to chief creative officer.Currently the head of the prolific Imagine Documentaries division, Wilkes’ expanded role was announced internally on Monday by Howard and Grazer. He will now work closely with film, TV, docs, branded entertainment, kids and family, and international programming.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterIllumination has hired Sam Bergen as chief marketing officer.In his new role, Bergen will oversee all aspects of the company’s creative and business marketing, including print and audio-visual advertising, as well as graphic and product design.He’s replacing Gail Harrison, who served as CMO since December 2018.

Varun Narang, former chief product officer at India-based streaming service Disney+Hotstar, has been appointed to the same role at Fox Corp.

Ellise Shafer administratorBusiness manager Josh Klein (pictured at left), whose clients include The Chainsmokers, Big Sean, Logic and Winnie Harlow, among others, has launched TKG Business Management. The company will be based in Beverly Hills and offer such services as business management, tax work, and personal CFO services to high net worth individuals.

Mónica Marie Zorrilla Three months after former AMC Networks Chief Financial Officer and industry veteran Sean Sullivan shifted from the entertainment company to SiriusXM, Christina Spade has stepped in to fill his shoes.Today, AMC Networks announced that the CPA and St. Joseph’s University graduate, who most recently served as Chief Financial Officer for ViacomCBS, will succeed Sullivan effective immediately.

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterNatalia Nastaskin, who has been General Manager of the Global Music Group at United Talent Agency since 2015, is joining the executive team at Primary Wave Music as Partner and Chief Content Officer, effective Feb. 1.Nastaskin will spearhead the development of various content for Primary Wave’s roster of management acts and publishing artists including Stevie Nicks, Bob Marley, Whitney Houston, Prince, Ray Charles among others.

Ontario has decided to leave Hollywood film and TV shoots on local soundstages untouched as the province declares a state of emergency amid a resurgent coronavirus outbreak.

Mobile games company Scopely has named former Facebook Gaming exec Ben Webley as its chief marketing officer, the company revealed Tuesday. In his new role, Webley will continue to build upon Scopely's advertising, growth, customer service, creative and user acquisition departments, while expanding engagement with players.

Naman Ramachandran Shay Segev and James Rushton will lead global sports streaming platform DAZN as co-chief executive officers.Segev will join DAZN Group in the coming months from sports betting and gaming company Entain, whose brands include Coral, Eurobet, Ladbrokes, CasinoClub, Foxy Bingo and Gala, where he was CEO. He was previously with Videobet and Playtech.Rushton has served as DAZN Group acting CEO since June 2020.

direct to your inboxThe NHS is facing the 'most dangerous situation' anyone can remember in some parts of the UK.That's the stark warning from the UK's chief medical officer Chris Whitty as coronavirus transmission rates spiral."The new, more transmissible variant of this disease is spreading rapidly across the country and having tragic consequences", he said in a statement."Hospitals are always busy in the winter but the NHS in some parts of the country is currently facing the most dangerous

direct to your inboxThe Met Office has issued another UK weather warning this weekend.A yellow alert has been issued with snow and ice set to batter parts of the UK this weekend.The warning, which lasts until Monday, covers most of Scotland, parts of England and Wales as outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow are expected on Saturday evening.The Met Office says heavy rain and melting snow may bring some flooding and travel disruption on Sunday as well as icy stretches possibly leading to some