Chris Albrecht Named President & CEO of Starz

ENGLEWOOD: Liberty Media Corporation has announced that Chris Albrecht, the former chairman and CEO of HBO, will join Starz as its president and CEO. 

Albrecht will oversee all of the Starz entities, including Starz Entertainment, Overture Films, Anchor Bay Entertainment and Film Roman. He takes up the new role as of January 1. Albrecht spent more than 20 years at HBO, serving as chairman and CEO from 2002 to 2007. He spent seven years as president of HBO Original Programming, and was also president of HBO Independent Productions.

"We are excited to have an industry leader with an exceptional track record join the Starz team," said Greg Maffei, Liberty Media’s president and CEO. "With his extensive experience and success in creating compelling original content and building a premium pay channel, Chris is a recognized visionary in the creative community and uniquely qualified to lead Starz into the future."

"I am thrilled and honored to be asked to join a great company like Starz and to help take advantage of the challenges and opportunities emerging in media and entertainment," commented Albrecht. "I have always seen Starz as a bold, entrepreneurial and growth-oriented brand—one that I believe will be a great home for me. I look forward to putting my experiences and interests to work with the talented management team at Liberty and Starz to create valued products for consumers and our affiliate partners."

"We have found the right set of skills and a record of success with Chris and are pleased to have him lead Starz," added John Malone, the chairman of Liberty Media. "We would also like to thank Bob Clasen, upon his retirement, for his leadership and contributions. He has been a valuable member of our management team and we wish him well."