Chris Petrikin, Former Top Communications Exec At Paramount And Fox, Joins Consulting Firm Actum As A Managing Director

Dade Hayes
·2 min read
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Chris Petrikin, a former Paramount, Fox and William Morris Agency communications executive, has joined consulting firm Actum LLC as a managing director.

Plans call for Petrikin to build and run a media and entertainment practice at Actum, whose main identity has been politics since its founding in 2021.

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Actum is led by well-known political figures including former Speaker of the California Assembly Fabian Nuñez, former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Operating out of New York, LA, Washington, Sacramento and London, the company handles government relations, strategic communications, crisis management, advocacy, and corporate positioning.

“As the entertainment and media landscape grows more complex, companies need advisors who profoundly understand the intricacies of this industry,” Actum Partner Stefan Friedman said in a press release. “With Chris joining a team that is unrivaled in the realm of communications, Actum can now provide the industry a rare mix of strategic perspective, crisis management, tactical execution and insider connections to help our clients succeed.”

Petrikin held the Chief Communications Officer post at Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox and the William Morris Agency. Prior to entering corporate PR, Petrikin spent several years in journalism, including at Variety.

In his studio and agency roles, Petrikin oversaw PR, branding and corporate social responsibility efforts and developed comprehensive strategies for handling key messages. After exiting Paramount in 2021 just after his former boss, Jim Gianopulos, left his post as studio chief, Petrikin founded and led the Petrikin Collective. The independent consultancy worked with start-up studios and streaming services, producers, financiers, tech companies and other clients.

“Actum is at an exciting moment in its trajectory, and I look forward to contributing to the company’s growth in the entertainment space and beyond,” Petrikin said. “I am eager to leverage my experience to help our clients navigate the current entertainment business environment, while drawing upon the expertise of my Actum colleagues, who are so adept at delivering elite strategies to help clients successfully adapt and thrive in the world today.”

In his new role, the release said, Petrikin will team with colleagues in an effort to “help entertainment and media companies and industry leaders through the complexities of reputational threats, competitive dynamics, and market disruptions.”

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