First Look Media, parent company of award-winning entertainment studio Topic Studios, has promoted Ian Stratford to Chief Operating Officer.

As COO, Stratford will be responsible for leading operations, business development, finance, and corporate and legal affairs for First Look Media’s portfolio in the entertainment and non-profit sectors.

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“Over the past several years, we have strategically developed First Look’s structure to position the company for continued growth in the changing media landscape. Ian has played a key role and will continue to do so in his expanded role,” said Michael Bloom, CEO of First Look Media and Topic Studios. “In the new phase of our company, we will do even more to support artists creating career-defining projects that tell boldly original stories that not only reflect culture, but define it.”

“I am honored to take on this new role and excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for First Look Media, Topic Studios and the company as a whole,” said Stratford. “As the film, television and podcast industries continue to evolve, we are well positioned to be flexible and opportunistic in the projects we create, the companies we build and the partners we support. I look forward to continuing to work with our great team to achieve our ambitious goals.”

First Look Media’s asset portfolio is led by Topic Studios, the film, television and podcast studio that has produced more than 35 film and television projects and eight Academy Award nominations (two wins), six Golden Globe nominations (one win) and has earned nine Emmy nominations. (two wins).

The studio is behind critically acclaimed films like Jesse Eisenberg’s upcoming “A Real Pain,” out Nov. 1 via Searchlight Pictures and starring Kieran Culkin and Eisenberg. In addition, First Look Media has strategic investments in specialty streaming services MHz Choice and PassionFlix and operates the First Look Institute, a nonprofit organization that supports Field of Vision, The Intercept, Lawyers for Reporters and The Press Freedom Initiative at the University of Maryland.

Stratford, who has been with First Look for more than three years, previously served as Chief Legal Officer and Head of Business & Legal Affairs. Before joining the company, Stratford spent four years at Endeavor, where he was a founding partner of Endeavor Content and part of the leadership team that built the studio to a $1 billion valuation and eventual sales of $785 million to scripted television and film films. assets to CJ ENM.

Before Endeavor, Stratford was a partner at Gray Krauss Stratford Sandler Des Rochers LLP, where he served as a strategic advisor to several media companies and led the firm’s film and television finance practice.

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