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    Versus forms original content division, hires Mark Grande for lead role

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1583 Views
    NEW YORK --

    Versus, a NY-based creative content company, has unveiled its new original content division, hiring Mark Grande to lead the department.

    As head of original content, Grande will lead the company’s strategy and execution of long-form original programming and production. This move further signifies Versus’ strong growth over the last year, and the announcement comes on the heels of the recent news of Alasdair Lloyd-Jones joining the company as its new president and chief marketing officer.

    “I have been a fan of Versus’ premium, award-winning work since the company was founded in 2013. When they approached me about launching a new original content division, I was in from the jump,” Grande said. “I’m excited to work with the amazing team at Versus as we expand our portfolio into new areas and work with partners to deliver amazing IP.”

    “Developing an original content division has been part of our company roadmap for some time now, and we’re excited to see it come to fruition,” said Samantha Louise, Versus co-founder. “Mark has a proven track record of creating content that resonates with audiences, and his robust experience will be a huge asset in propelling our continued growth.”

    Grande brings more than 20 years of content strategy, development and production experience to Versus. Prior to joining the Versus team, he led content at hip-hop legend Nas’ multi-cultural focused entertainment company, Mass Appeal, where he oversaw digital, film, and television programs, executive producing their first ever podcast slate–including one of The Atlantic’s Best Podcasts of 2019, Freaknik: A Discourse On A Paradise Lost–and was instrumental in the launch of their children’s brand MAJR. Prior to that, he led programming and production at Sony Music Entertainment’s original content studio Rumble Yard, helped launch Derek Jeter’s sports media platform The Players’ Tribune, and oversaw film/television development at The Howard Stern Production Company. 

    Grande’s team has hit the ground running. They recently set up their first original documentary feature at ALLBLK, an AMC Networks-owned streaming platform. They have also secured multiple content partnerships including Feel The Flow, a comedic documentary that will dismantle misconceptions about menstruation around the world with My Entertainment’s premium doc company, One Foot Forward. 

    In addition to documentaries, Versus has several animated and scripted projects in the works.

    Grande and Versus are repped by UTA.  

    Tags:Alasdair Lloyd-JonesMark GrandeSamantha LouiseVersus



    Supreme Court Allows Multibillion-Dollar Class Action Lawsuit To Proceed Against Meta

    Friday, November 22, 2024

    The Supreme Court is allowing a multibillion-dollar class action investors' lawsuit to proceed against Facebook parent Meta, stemming from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm.

    The justices heard arguments in November in Meta's bid to shut down the lawsuit. On Friday, they decided that they were wrong to take up the case in the first place.

    The high court dismissed the company's appeal, leaving in place an appellate ruling allowing the case to go forward.

    Investors allege that Meta did not fully disclose the risks that Facebook users' personal information would be misused by Cambridge Analytica, a firm that supported Donald Trump 's first successful Republican presidential campaign in 2016.

    Inadequacy of the disclosures led to two significant price drops in the price of the company's shares in 2018, after the public learned about the extent of the privacy scandal, the investors say.

    Meta spokesman Andy Stone said the company was disappointed by the court's action. "The plaintiff's claims are baseless and we will continue to defend ourselves as this case is considered by the District Court," Stone said in an emailed statement.

    Meta already has paid a $5.1 billion fine and reached a $725 million privacy settlement with users.

    Cambridge Analytica had ties to Trump political strategist Steve Bannon. It had paid a Facebook app developer for access to the personal information of about 87 million Facebook users. That data was then used to target U.S. voters during the 2016 campaign.

    The lawsuit is one of two high court cases involving class-action lawsuits against tech companies. The justices also are wrestling with whether to shut down a class action against Nvidia.... Read More

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