Sonar makes interim chief’s role permanent

US producer Sonar Entertainment has appointed interim CEO Thomas Lesinski to the chief executive role on a permanent basis.

In September 2015, Lesinski (pictured) was placed in the CEO role after the exit of Gene Stein, who went on to join rival LA producer Gaumont Television.

It is the latest CEO change for Sonar under private equity parent The Catalyst Capital Group. Stein’s 18-month tenure was preceded by that of Stewart Till.

Lesinski has been on the Sonar board since 2013. He founded Energi Entertainment, was president of Paramount Pictures Digital Entertainment, worked at Legendary Entertainment and for ten years at Warner Bros.

“In the time that Tom has taken the helm as Sonar’s interim CEO, he has without question demonstrated how ideally suited he is to guide our ongoing growth and expansion,” said Sonar chairman and Catalyst managing director and partner de Alba. “He has the vision and the leadership skills to ensure that the momentum the company currently enjoys will continue and accelerate moving forward.”

Sonar’s epic fantasy drama The Shannara Chronicles has done reasonable ratings for MTV. The studio is also gearing up for Taboo, which stars Hollywood A-lister Tom Hardy and is for the BBC in the UK and FX in the US. The Son was recently sent straight into production by AMC, and development is underway on an adaptation of graphic novel The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story.

Sonar was known as RHI Entertainment until 2012, when Catalyst became majority shareholder after a bankruptcy proceeding.