Josh Berger to leave WarnerMedia

Josh Berger, president and MD of Warner Bros in the UK, Ireland and Spain, is leaving the company.

Josh Berger

Berger has held senior leadership roles at the US studio for 30 years and recently retained his role as country manager for the three territories in an EMEA-wide re-jig.

He will step down in December but will remain advisor to senior management until the middle of 2021, handling the Harry Potter franchise.

He is currently president of Harry Potter Global Franchise Development and executive producer on the third instalment of the Fantastic Beasts film series and forthcoming BBC documentary Fantastic Beasts: A Natural History, among other projects.

Berger was responsible for overseeing Warner Bros’ business activities in the three territories. He was instrumental in expanding the company’s activities across film, TV, and videogames.

He began his Warner Bros career in 1986, joining as an intern in the international TV arm of Lorimar-Telepictures, which was bought by Warner Bros in 1989.

After working in a number of leadership roles in Paris and Madrid, Berger relocated to the UK 24 years ago to oversee all TV activities for EMEA. There he made a number of landmark deals with all forms of TV media, in addition to equity investments and coproductions.

In 2002, he became the company’s first country manager (UK and Ireland), setting the template for a management model that integrates the disparate divisions in a territory under one leader and a single corporate structure. Berger added management of Spain to his responsibilities in 2009.

Gerhard Zeiler, head of international at Warner Bros parent WarnerMedia, said: “Josh is one of the most respected people in the industry. He was the first Warner Bros country manager, pioneering the model which shapes the international organisation today. It is fair to say that, thanks to his leadership and energy, our company is better off today. I respect his desire to take on new challenges and, along with all of our colleagues across the company, wish him the very best.”

Berger added: “There’s nothing more amazing than seeing stories being brought to life on screen. Over the last 31 years at Warner Bros, I’ve been lucky to see every part of that process in action. I’ve seen ideas being formed and deals being struck, magic being made in front of the camera and behind it, and stories being told from, and sent to, all corners of the Earth.”