BURBANK, Calif., Jan. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sophie Watts, President of global media company STX Entertainment, and Kathy Savitt, President of STX Digital, today announced that respected technology executive James Loftus is joining STX as Senior Vice President of Business Development and Operations, STX Digital.

STX Entertainment specializes in the production, marketing, and distribution of talent-driven motion picture, television and digital content and, in this new role, Loftus will be responsible for strategizing and accelerating business initiatives, partnerships and growth in the digital arena for the company.

Loftus comes to STX with deep experience advising media companies on strategic planning, partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions. He joins STX from leading Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), where he was a partner. He will be based out of STX's newly established offices in Cupertino, California, dividing his time between Northern California and the company's Burbank headquarters.

While at a16z, Loftus led strategic coverage on the firm's 45-plus consumer facing portfolio companies in addition to consulting on strategic initiatives for many other high growth technology companies. Loftus advised on major innovations and investments in a wide range of industries including tech, entertainment, finance, sports, advertising, news, data and platforms. A respected entrepreneurial executive, Loftus was previously Vice President and Co-Head of Corporate Development at Yahoo, prior to which he was at Google, where he worked on investments, mergers and acquisitions. Throughout his career he has executed and consulted on a broad range of technology issues, acquisitions and investments.

In making the announcement, Sophie Watts stated, "Last year we successfully launched our motion picture division, and the addition of James to STX signals our commitment to the same aggressive growth strategy with our digital initiatives. We are thrilled to bring him on board at STX as one of the lead strategic architects helping to position the company for the future."

Added Kathy Savitt, "James is a highly strategic business development executive as well as a true innovator on emerging trends and monetization models. I'm excited to partner with him to help drive our vision and successful execution of STX's digital initiatives."

Loftus began his career practicing corporate law in the mergers and acquisitions department of Shearman & Sterling LLP's New York office. He graduated from Boston College summa cum laude and received his JD from New York University School of Law.

Additionally, Loftus has served as a mentor in the Manos Accelerator program, a 3-month hands on program that focuses on providing business resources, infrastructure, guidance and strategic advice for startup companies founded by Latino entrepreneurs.

About STX Entertainment

STX Entertainment is a fully-integrated global media company specializing in the production, marketing, and distribution of talent-driven motion picture, television and multimedia content. It is the first major entertainment and media company to be launched at this scale in Hollywood in more than twenty years.

STX Entertainment is led by its founder, prolific businessman Robert Simonds, and was co-founded by Bill McGlashan, Managing Partner of TPG Growth, a division of leading global private investment firm TPG, which has $75 billion of capital under management. In addition to backing from TPG Growth, other investors include Hony Capital, a leading private equity firm in China; Gigi Pritzker, co-founder and CEO of film and television production company OddLot Entertainment; Beau Wrigley, former Chairman and CEO of the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company; and others.

For more information about STX Entertainment, please visit our website at www.stxentertainment.com

For Further Information:

Steve Elzer
Elzer & Associates
(213) 607-3591
steve@elzerassociates.com

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SOURCE STX Entertainment