Paul Johnson to Exit Reed MIDEM

PARIS, January 13: Paul Johnson is stepping down as the director of the television division at Reed MIDEM, the organizer of MIPTV and MIPCOM, among other events, in the middle of March.

Johnson has held the position since April 2003, overseeing MIPTV, MIPCOM, MIPDOC and MIPJunior. In a statement, Reed MIDEM said Johnson is leaving the company "for a new career opportunity which will be announced shortly." Laurine Garaude, Reed MIDEM’s director of customer relationship marketing and product development and former director of MILIA, will head the television division until a successor is named.

"Paul leaves our television division in excellent condition," said Paul Zilk, Reed MIDEM’s chief executive. "Over the past six years, his enthusiasm and knowledge of the entertainment industry have helped broaden the client base at our television events to include new players in digital content, mobile telephony, advertising and licensing, and attendance at the markets has grown steadily. He oversaw the launch of the MIPTV Content 360 initiative, the introduction of the International Digital Emmy Awards and the digitization of screenings at MIPDOC and MIPJunior. We wish Paul the very best in his new position."

—By Mansha Daswani