Creative Domain Taps Levin To Lead Expansion Effort

Former Sony and Walt Disney Co. worldwide marketing chief Robert Levin has joined Creative Domain, a Hollywood-based film marketing and advertising company that produces trailers, television ads and posters for the major studios. Levin becomes president of the newly created Creative Domain Enterprises, a division focused on expanding the firm's business to such other entertainment and leisure industries as vacation resorts, fashion, sports and music.

Levin left Sony late last year after about four years, following a restructuring that elevated Jeff Blake to co-head of worldwide marketing and distribution at the studio. While at Sony, Levin oversaw marketing in addition to licensing and merchandising on such films as "Men in Black, "Air Force One" and "Jerry Maguire." While at Disney from 1985-95, Levin oversaw marketing and promotions on such films as "The Little Mermaid" and "The Lion King." Before joining Disney, Levin was a senior account management executive at advertising firms Needham, Harper & Steers and McCann-Erickson.

Creative Domain chairman and CEO Albert Litewka said Levin's combination of skills and experience meshed with the company's desire to broaden its own business. "If you look at areas like sports, fashion and music, the stars and designers are being marketed as entertainers," he said. "Bob is one of the pre-eminent entertainment marketing experts in the industry, plus his career encompasses more than just being the head of worldwide marketing for studios. He has an advertising and marketing background that is very valuable to us."

Levin said, "There's an opportunity in the dynamic changes that are going on in the industry. I have immediate skills in the area of feature marketing, which I'll be using to work with film clients. But we'll quickly be looking to expand to leisure products areas such as cruise ships, resorts, theme parks, interactive gaming, music and sports. There's a real potential to provide and entertainment marketing approach to other kinds of companies.