Peter Chernin - Biography

Peter Chernin (born May 29, 1951) currently owns and runs Chernin Entertainment and The Chernin Group, both of which he founded in 2009. He was formerly President and COO of News Corporation, and Chairman and CEO of Fox Entertainment Group. He is a Corporate Director for American Express and sits on the Board of Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. He is also Chairman of Malaria No More, a non-profit dedicated to ending deaths due to malaria.

Early life and education

Chernin was born in Harrison, New York. He earned a B.A. in English literature from the University of California, Berkeley.

Career

Widely considered one of the most powerful media executives in the world, Peter Chernin is founder and Chairman of Chernin Entertainment and The Chernin Group, which he founded in 2009 after leaving News Corp.

Chernin Entertainment produces television programs and feature films. Its current slate of television shows includes the breakout hit comedy New Girl, A&E’s Breakout Kings and Fox’s new series Terra Nova and Allen Gregory. Fox will air the highly anticipated Touch staring Keifer Sutherland in spring 2012. Chernin, along with Dylan Clark, produced the company's first feature film Rise of the Planet of the Apes, released in August 2011. The film received critical acclaim and has grossed over $430 million worldwide as of October 19, 2011.

The Chernin Group manages, operates and invests in businesses in the media, entertainment, and technology sectors. Chernin is currently an investor in technology companies Flipboard, Pandora, FullScreen and Tumblr.The company launched CA Media in November 2010, which aims to strategically build, manage, and operate media, entertainment, and technology businesses in Asia. CA Media focuses on a broad range of opportunities in content creation (specifically, film and TV production), television networks, sports, education, advertising, and digital media. In July 2011, CA Media invested in the Hong Kong-based mixed martial arts promoter Legend Fighting Championship. Chernin spoke about the business opportunities in emerging markets, especially for the entertainment industry at The Paley Center for Media's International Council Summit (IC2011).

Chernin was approached in October 2010 by the Tribune Company to be either CEO or Chairman of the Board. There was also media speculation about Chernin having a role in Yahoo!'s future after Carol Bartz's abrupt departure in September 2011. However, at the All Things Digital's AsiaD Conference in Hong Kong on October 20, 2011, he dismissed having any active interest in pursuing opportunities with the company.

Previously, Chernin served as President and Chief Operating Officer of News Corporation for twelve years, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Fox Group, where he oversaw the global operations of the company's film, television, satellite, cable, and digital media businesses. Earlier in his tenure with the company, Chernin headed Twentieth Century Fox Filmed Entertainment, as well as Fox Broadcasting Company. He had oversight of Fox's tremendous growth in sports, cable and general entertainment television programming and distribution in the U.S. and internationally.

It was rumored in the media that he was going to leave his position at News Corp. by June 2009, when his contract expired, and be replaced in his current position by James Murdoch, the media executive youngest son of Rupert Murdoch. On February 24, 2009, the Wall Street Journal reported that Peter Chernin made the decision to leave News Corporation, to pursue entrepreneurial ventures. On June 4, 2009 Chase Carey was named as Chernin's successor.

Prior to joining Fox, Chernin was president and COO of Lorimar Film Entertainment. His other executive roles include positions at Showtime/The Movie Channel, Warner Books and St. Martin's Press.

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