President Is Leaving Artisan

Artisan Entertainment President Bill Block is leaving the independent film and video distributor to “seek other investment and restructuring opportunities,” the company said.

Block, a former talent agent and one of the founding partners of Artisan, said he will retain his 8.2% stake in the company.

In 1997, Block helped put together the deal in which investment firm Bain Capital bought Live Entertainment, which became Artisan. As head of production and acquisitions, Block is credited with Artisan’s acquiring what was to become its biggest box-office hit, “The Blair Witch Project,” which grossed $142 million domestically and more than $100 million overseas. Block said he hopes to “find a similar asset play as Live Entertainment.” Claudia Eller