Studio Veteran Chris Petrikin Joins Actum Consulting Firm as Managing Director

Chris Petrikin, a former top communications executive for 20th Century Fox and Paramount Pictures, has joined consulting firm Actum LLC to expand its activity into the entertainment and media sectors.

Actum was established in 2021 and is lead by three heavyweights in California politics: Barbara Boxer, former U.S. Senator for the Golden State, Antonio Villaraigosa, former mayor of Los Angeles; and Fabian Nuñez, former speaker of the California Assembly. Actum offers communcations, consulting, crisis management and advocacy services to clients.

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“As the entertainment and media landscape grows more complex, companies need advisors who profoundly understand the intricacies of this industry,” said Stefan Friedman, a partner at Actum. “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 segues to Actum after leading corporate communications for Paramount Pictures from 2017 to 2021. Before that he held the same role on the film side of the 20th Century Fox studio for 10 years. Earlier in his career, Petrikin led communications for the William Morris Agency. Most recently, he ran his own PR consulting firm that focused on entertainment, tech and financial 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,” said Petrikin. “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.”

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