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Kurt Rieder to join 20th Century Fox as Sunder Kimatrai departs

Kurt Rieder. 

The theatrical arm of 20th Century Fox is restructuring its Asia Pacific operations, with oversight for the region moving from Sydney to Singapore.

As a result, Sunder Kimatrai, Fox’s executive vice president, Asia Pacific, is leaving the studio after 24 years.

Kurt Rieder has been named exec VP for the region, based in Singapore. An internal email announcing Rieder’s appointment, effective June 19, was sent to staff late last week.

The studio told staff that moving the regional office to Singapore puts the office closer to its business in Asia, particularly the booming Chinese market.

Most recently Rieder spent three and a half years as CEO of the Mars Cinema Group, Turkey’s leading circuit with more than 750 screens at 85 locations in 32 cities nationwide. 

Before that he spent more than a decade in Singapore as CEO of Golden Village, the island state’ biggest chain; MD of Artisan Gateway,  a consulting firm specialising in the film industry; senior VP, Asia, for United International Pictures; and MD of Golden Village. 

Earlier in his career he was GM of Village Cinemas in Argentina and GM,  Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, for Warner Bros. Pictures.

The well-regarded Kimatrai joined Fox International in 1993 as MD for India after graduating from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Arizona.

He was reassigned to Singapore as MD for Singapore and Malaysia in 1998 and relocated to Sydney as MD for Australia in 2001. In 2005 his responsibilities were widened to include all of Asia.