North Hollywood, CA, June 10, 2013 – Alan Perris, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and Academy Foundation longtime Chief Operating Officer, will retire at the end of the year. He announced his retirement to the Academy's Executive Committee and Board of Governors last February. Perris joined the Television Academy in early 2006 and upon his retirement will have served in his current role for eight years.
As COO, Perris has overseen the day-to-day activities of the Academy and its Foundation and their various long-term initiatives. In addition, he has managed the executives in charge of all key departments and support staff.
During his tenure, Perris worked alongside three separate Academy chairmen, including Dick Askin, John Shaffner and Bruce Rosenblum, and two Foundation chairmen, Steve Mosko and Jerry Petry, providing important continuity as the Academy has evolved with the ever changing television landscape.
Under Perris' watch, the Academy expanded its annual Emmy® competition to include broadband and digital content, embraced professionals working on content for a variety of platforms, and grew its membership by 30%, from 14,000 to its current 18,000.
Additionally, Perris oversaw the expansion of the award-winning Emmy® magazine from 6 to 9 issues per year, and helped restore the Hall of Fame ceremony to an annual event.
"Over the past eight years, Alan has provided the expert leadership required to grow and change the Academy for the better," said Academy Chairman and CEO Bruce Rosenblum. "We thank him for his hard work and service during his time at the Television Academy."
"The Foundation is grateful for the support and leadership demonstrated by Alan the past eight years," said Jerry Petry, chairman of the Academy Foundation. "Throughout Alan's tenure, the Foundation has generated increased growth which has brought more awareness and funding support for the Foundation's programs and initiatives, including the College Television Awards, Student Internship and the Archive of American Television, to name a few."
"It has truly been a pleasure to head up these two fine staffs representing the iconic brand of television excellence, the Emmy," said Perris. "I look back with great pride over my 47 years in this wonderful industry, and now will pursue the things I love including spending time with family, friends and improving my golf game."
Perris was instrumental in helping the Academy take on new initiatives, including the creation of the annual Television Academy Honors competition which celebrates pro-social programming, or "Television with a Conscience." Even during a decade that saw an economic downturn, Perris fortified solid financial footing for the Television Academy while further establishing the Academy Foundation as a self-sufficient organization.
Perris' career achievements made him uniquely suited to helm the Television Academy. Beginning his television career in local TV, he rose to running his first station, WJXT, Jacksonville, by the age of 33. Perris subsequently served as President and General Manager of local television stations in Miami (WPLG, then WTVJ) and held positions as President at two station group production companies, Post-Newsweek and Scripps-Howard.
He then segued into national television production, serving as Senior Vice President of first-run programming at both Sony Pictures Television (Columbia Tri-Star) and Warner Bros. (Telepictures). Perris is credited with developing such successful shows as The Ricki Lake Show, Dragon Tales, Judge Mathis and Street Smarts, and oversaw current production on numerous other shows including EXTRA and Jenny Jones.
He then served as Senior Vice President of programming at the Hallmark Cable Channel. Prior to his joining the Television Academy, he was Executive Vice President of business development at Entertainment Media Works, a business to consumer internet venture.
A search has been underway for a successor to Mr. Perris.
Contact:
Chris DiIorio – PMK*BNC
310-854-4866
chris.diiorio@pmkbnc.com
# # #
Related Articles
Television Academy COO Alan Perris to Retire