‘Spotlight’ Marketing Exec Jason Cassidy Joins Focus Features

Focus Features has tapped Jason Cassidy as president of marketing, less than a year after he led the campaign for Open Road Films that landed “Spotlight” a Best Picture Oscar.

Cassidy will oversee and orchestrate all aspects of marketing for Focus Features’ film slate. He will report to Focus Features’ Chairman, Peter Kujawski, and work closely with Focus President, Robert Walak, and Chief Operating Officer, Abhijay Prakash.

Cassidy departed Open Road on March 30 as its chief marketing officer and was replaced by Jonathan Helfgot.

“We are very pleased to welcome Jason to Focus during such an exciting time for the studio,” said Kujawski, Prakash and Walak in a joint statement. “Jason is a well-respected marketing executive and his passion for engaging worldwide audiences with innovative storytelling makes him the ideal leader for our world-class marketing team. We look forward to his guidance as we grow our business and continue to champion high-quality, diverse filmmaking in the specialty marketplace.”

Focus’ current slate includes “Loving,” “Nocturnal Animals,” “Kubo and the Two Strings” and “A Monster Calls.” Focus recently hired Jamie Schwartz as Executive Vice President of Marketing, who will report to Cassidy and is charged with maximizing the international impact of Focus’s film slate.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to join the tremendously talented team at Focus. With a slate from some of the most extraordinary filmmakers of our time, it’s an exciting time there,” said Cassidy. “I couldn’t be happier to help Donna, Peter, Abhijay and Robert strengthen Focus’s position as a leading global distributor of specialty films.”

Prior to Open Road, Cassidy ran the marketing department at Miramax Films, where he spearheaded campaigns for almost 100 movies. Cassidy is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

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