Catching up on recent high-profile moves by people, companies and institutions around town …
Let’s start with Otis College of Art and Design in Westchester, which last week named longtime entertainment industry executive Charles Hirschhorn as president.
Highlights from Hirschhorn’s 30-year career across film, television and digital media include founding G4 Television, the first cable network devoted to video gaming; serving as vice president of development at Fox Broadcasting where he helped create “In Living Color” (the series that gave Jim Carrey his big break); working as vice president of production at Disney’s Hollywood Pictures and a stint as president of Disney Television. His most recent role was as president of AEG Television.
“As a producer, I’ve learned that creative expression needs opportunity, relationships and resources to fulfill its intention,” Hirschhorn said in an email. “I’m hoping I can increase those elements for Otis College students, faculty and alumni, while bringing attention to their successes. As a media executive, I’m hoping to deepen and expand Otis’ significant existing relationships with major media, content and design businesses throughout Los Angeles.”
Hirschhorn, a Harvard College graduate and a longtime trustee at Berklee College of Music, takes the reins at Otis on June 1 …
Speaking of entertainment, the University of La Verne is ramping up its film and television program, thanks to a $2 million donation from alumnus Nathan C.H. Chow.
The school will rename its broadcasting concentration the Nathan Chow Program of Film and Television, and a new production facility will be designated the Nathan Chow Film and Television Studio.
Chow is chairman of Shih Hsin University in Taiwan and managing director of China Metropolitan Ventures …
John Devereux, a 30-year real estate veteran, has been named president at Watt Cos. Recently elevated Chief Executive Nadine Watt made Devereux’s hiring one of her first moves at the helm of the commercial and residential development and investment company.
