David Maisel

David Maisel is an American entertainment businessman best known for developing Marvel Studios production slate financing plan and for arranging the sale of Marvel Entertainment to The Walt Disney Company.

Life

David Maisel was raised in Saratoga Springs, New York. He then attended then graduated from Duke University. He attended Harvard University and earned an MBA. His first job was with Boston Consulting Group.

Maisel was later employed at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and The Walt Disney Company following Michael Ovitz around. He joined CAA in 1994 as a corporate advisory agent working with Ovitz, the agency's head. Masiel assisted, amongst other deal, Ovitz with Matsushita’s sale of MCA/Universal to Seagram in 1995. He followed Ovitz to Disney as director of corporate development and strategic planning while Ovitz served as president of the company for 18 months. With Ovitz leaving and purchasing a large stake in Livent, Masiel followed as president.

Masiel stepped down as president along with its CEO of Livent on June 25, 1999. He had found the company full of fraud and it filed for bankruptcy.

From 1999 to 2001, Masiel was managing director of chello, a European broadband service provider. In October 2001, he switch his employment to Endeavor Talent Agency as corporate strategy and business development head.

In 2003, Avi Arad introduced Maisel to Isaac Perlmutter who hired Maisel as Marvel Studios Chief Operating Officer to execute Maisel's plan to increase returns on the films. Inspired by George Lucas and Star Wars, Maisel was considering the possibilities for revenue if Marvel made their own movie thus he block a couple of licensing deals. He then arranged a "proof of concept" with a direct to DVD animated film line with Lionsgate as Lionsgate funded most of the costs.

Maisel then was challenged to develop a plan that would allow Marvel to produce their own films while put up little of the company's own capital. Under the Maisel movie production slate funding plan, the movies would be funded by loans backed by superhero movie rights. Maisel and Arad then clashed over how many movies and what characters to feature with Arad. Maisel was moved to the studio's parent company, Marvel Enterprises, in September 2005 in the position of executive vice president of corporate development while being vice chairman of Marvel Studios. Arad left in May 2006 as Maisel received Perlmutter's support. In September 2006, Maisel was appointed Executive Vice President, Office of the Chief Executive for Marvel Entertainment together with John Turitzin and Isaac Perlmutter (CEO). He was named chairman of Marvel Studios in March 2007. Maisel was first to inquire with Disney about any business ventures leading to the eventual merger. He left Marvel Entertainment upon Disney's acquisition of Marvel in 2009.

In July 2011, Maisel was hired by Rovio Entertainment to lead its efforts to make an Angry Birds movie as special advisor. In December 2012, Maisel was announced as the executive producer of the Angry Birds movie.

Externals

• David Maisel at the Internet Movie Database