MUMBAI: Paramount Pictures has named former New Line Cinema executive Daria Cercek and former 20th Century Studios executive Michael Ireland as co-presidents of production at the studio.
Both Cercek and Ireland will report to Paramount motion picture group president Emma Watts. Ireland joined the studio in late November, and Cercek begins her position effective from 11 January.
“I’m thrilled to be working again with both Daria and Mike,” Watts said in a statement. “The key to success is having the right team, and having watched Daria and Mike grow over the years, I am quite confident their combined creativity, enthusiasm and extensive talent relationships will be a huge windfall for Paramount. They believe passionately in people and projects, which makes for better films.”
Prior to joining Paramount, Cercek worked in New Line Cinema, where she served as executive vice president of production and development. In her role, she oversaw Olivia Wilde’s upcoming next film Don’t Worry Darling starring Florence Pugh, Harry Styles and Chris Pine.
“I am absolutely over the moon to be joining the incredible team at Paramount, and working again with some of my most esteemed and beloved friends and colleagues,” Cercek said in a statement. “It is truly an honor to step into this role alongside Mike at such a historic studio, and to continue the legacy of making top-notch movies with world-class talent.”
Cercek was formerly senior vice president of production and development at Twentieth Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios), having risen through the ranks after starting as a creative executive in 2010.
Ireland, began his career as a network executive at MTV in 2003.
