Grey Goes To The Movies

Talent manager Brad Grey has a new gig: running Paramount Motion Picture Group. The manager and producer is expected to take over for the retiring Sherry Lansing and become CEO of the movie studio by March 1st.

As partner of Brillstein Grey Management, the executive helped manage the careers of Gary Shandling, Adam Sandler and other funny men alongside veteran comedy manager Bernie Brillstein.

It is not clear from the January 6th announcement how Grey will remove himself from the management firm or if he will sell his share of the “Plan B” production company, co-owned by Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston.

Brillstein-Grey currently handles Aniston, David Spade, Jim Belushi, Nick Lachey and former NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, among others.

Shandling left the firm several years ago after a litigious row with Grey.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Grey was approached by his friend Viacom Co-President Tom Freston around Thanksgiving.

Although Grey has minimal experience with movie production, he is known for his business savvy and creative instincts. He was schooled at a young age by Harvey Weinstein – former concert promoter turned Miramax Film Corp. founder.

Grey had been working with comedians since the early ’80s. In 1985, he convinced Brillstein to merge his established company with Grey’s small firm. Brillstein stepped back from day-to-day operations and sold his stake to Grey in 1995.