Fox's Film Studio Head to Step Down

21st Century Fox Inc. said Jim Gianopulos, the longtime head of its film studio, would step down from his current post when his contract ends next year.

The 64-year-old will be replaced as chairman and chief executive of the Twentieth Century Fox Film by Stacey Snider, who joined the film studio in November 2014 and serves as co-chairman. Ms. Snider, 55, is the former chairman of Universal Pictures and former CEO of DreamWorks Studios.

Mr. Gianopulos has run Fox's studio since 2000, starting as co-chairman and co-CEO with Tom Rothman until 2012, when he assumed sole possession of both titles. When his contract ends June 30, 2017, Mr. Gianopulos will remain with the company in a new strategic capacity and continue reporting to Lachlan Murdoch and James Murdoch, 21st Century Fox's executive chairman and chief executive, respectively.

The company declined to comment further on Mr. Gianopulos's new role.

"Jim has delivered year after year, with films that truly soared, spanning 'Titanic', 'Avatar' and most recently the wildly successful 'Deadpool,'" 21st Century Fox Executive Chairman Rupert Murdoch said in a prepared statement.

21st Century Fox, which owns the studio, and News Corp, owner of The Wall Street Journal, were part of the same company until mid-2013.

Write to Maria Armental at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 16, 2016 16:05 ET (20:05 GMT)

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