Harry Evans Sloan

Harry E. Sloan is a successful international media investor, entrepreneur and studio executive. His entrepreneurial spirit has been a guiding force, leading him to identify key investment opportunities with significant returns for his partners. Over the past several years, Sloan has raised more than $1.3 billion in the public markets to invest in creating new businesses in media, technology and other industries. Throughout his formidable career, he has also been responsible for the creation or sponsorship of three successful public companies, including New World Entertainment, SBS Broadcasting and Lionsgate. Today, Sloan along with partner Jeff Sagansky, a former president of CBS Entertainment and a one-time co-president of Sony Pictures Television, successfully create funds to invest in global industries that are transitioning in the digital era. Under the Eagle investment platform banner, he has been a founding investor of Global Eagle, Silver Eagle, Double Eagle and Platinum Eagle. Prior to launching Eagle, Sloan was named the chairman and CEO at MGM in 2005, one year after a $5 billion private equity buyout of the studio. During his tenure, he led MGM to revive the "James Bond," "Rocky" and "Pink Panther" franchises and created a partnership with Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema to produce three "Hobbit" movies. Sloan also rebuilt MGM's theatrical, television distribution and marketing units. He launched numerous MGM basic television channels throughout the United States, as well as in such international regions as the United Kingdom, India, Italy, Poland and Eastern Europe. Sloan also led the MGM effort to successfully launch the Viacom-Lionsgate joint venture, U.S. pay TV channel EPIX in 2009. Under his four-year watch, MGM generated approximately $500 million a year of library cash flow and was able to service the $3.7 billion of acquisition debt without tapping into its corporate revolver. Sloan stepped down from his position as CEO in August 2009 and, remaining as chairman, recruited a new team to restructure the debt on behalf of MGM's lenders. In December of 2010, MGM confirmed its plan of reorganization, creating a new and financially healthy operation. Sloan officially left the studio in 2011 to launch Eagle with Sagansky. One of his biggest career achievements was founding SBS Broadcasting in 1990 with a personal investment of $5 million. Over the next decade, Sloan built SBS into the second largest broadcaster in Europe, with 16 television stations, 21 premium pay channels and 11 radio networks, reaching 100 million people in nine countries. He led the company's initial public offering in 1993 and sold SBS (Nasdaq: SBTV) for $2.6 billion in October 2005 to Permira and KKR. In 2007, SBS consolidated its operations into Prosieben Sat.1 Media AG, Germany's largest television broadcasting group, creating a European media powerhouse, where Sloan served on the Board of Directors until 2009. He was also one of the founding shareholders of Lionsgate in 1999 and served as chairman of the Board of Directors from 2004-2005. Prior to founding SBS, Sloan was co-chairman at New World Entertainment Ltd., which he purchased for $2 million in 1983. Over the next three years, he expanded the independent movie production company into television production and distribution, and New World became the third largest producer of U.S. primetime television. Sloan led New World's initial public offering in 1985, acquired Marvel Entertainment Group in 1986, and sold the business in 1989 to Ronald Perelman for $270 million. From 1976 to 1983, he was a practicing entertainment lawyer with Sloan, Kuppin and Ament, a law firm, which he founded in Los Angeles. Sloan received his B.A. degree from UCLA in 1973 and J.D. Degree from Loyola Law School in 1976. In 1987, he was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the President's Advisory Council on Trade and Policy Negotiations (ACTPN). Sloan also served on the UCLA Anderson School of Management Board of Visitors and the Executive Board of UCLA Theatre, Film and Television.