Michael J. Fuchs
Michael J. Fuchs (pronounced "Fyooks") (born New York City, U.S., 9 March 1946) is an American executive producer for premium cable television network HBO.
Career
Fuchs is the son of Charles Fuchs a Real Estate Executive. He was educated at Union College in Schenectady, New York, where he obtained a BA in political science in 1967, and a law degree at New York University in law in 1971.
After gaining experience in entertainment law, Fuchs joined HBO and became active in sports TV production. Fuchs held various senior positions by the early 1980s and was chief executive officer and chairman of the board in 1984.
Then in May 1995 he became vice president of Time Warner and then chairman and CEO of the Warner Music Group. However due to his extensive changes during his position as chairman which saw the dismissal of several important executives at the company, he was sacked by Time Warner chairman Gerald Levin, leaving the company with a reported US$60 million "golden parachute",.[1]
Fuchs has produced many concerts for HBO featuring such performers as Bette Midler, Diana Ross and Johnny Cash and he is highly active in C-SPAN (the Cable Satellite Public Affairs Network) and Comedy Central, which is an advertiser-supported network owned by Viacom.[2]
Fuchs is also Chairman of the Bryant Park Corporation and is credited for being the inventor of the HBO Bryant Park Summer Movie Festival, one of New York's most popular free Summer events.
Awards
- CableACE Governor's Award 1993 *CableAce Award Dramatic or Theatrical Special "In the Gloaming" 1997
Career Timeline
- 1964-1967 - Studied at Union College, Schenectady, New York gaining a BA in political science in 1967
- 1971 - Qualified as a lawyer from New York University
- 1971 - 1974 - Worked in entertainment law as an associate with the firm of Marshall, Bratter, Greene, Allison and Tucker in New York City
- 1974 - Employed for 18 months at the New York office of the William Morris Agency as director of business affairs
- 1975 - Worked in a similar capacity at the firm of Bomser and Oppenheim
- 1976 - Joined Home Box Office (HBO) Inc. as director of special programming
- 1977-1979
- Served as vice president for specials and sports, HBO
- Acted as vice president, programming, HBO
- Worked as president and chief operating officer of HBO
- Served as an executive vice president of Time, Inc.
- 1980 - Promoted to senior vice president, programming, HBO
- 1982 - Became executive vice president, programming, HBO
- 1983 - Appointed president of the HBO Entertainment Group
- 1983 - Named director of the executive committee for Tri-Star Pictures
- 1984 - Received additional titles of chairman of the board and chief executive officer of HBO Inc. in October
- 1995 - Named chairman and CEO of Warner Music Group in May
- 1995 - Resigned (under pressure) from Time Warner
- 1996 - Invested in Internet car-buying site, Auto-By-Tel
- 1999 - Served as one of four executive producers of the HBO movie "A Lesson Before Dying"