HOLLYWOOD—Oct 10, 2005
Kodak’s Stenslie to Succeed Spruill
Kodak announced here today that Bjorn Stenslie
will succeed D. Brian Spruill as vice president of the Entertainment Imaging
Division and general manager, Worldwide Sales and Marketing Operations. Spruill
will be retiring at the end of 2005. Stenslie is currently serving as regional
business general manager and vice president of the Entertainment Imaging
Division in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
“Bjorn Stenslie has managed our operations in both the Asian Pacific regions of
the world, and also in Europe and the Middle East,” says Eric G. Rodli,
president of Entertainment Imaging and senior vice president, Eastman Kodak
Company. “He brings a global perspective and a deep passion and appreciation for
the film industry to this new role.”
Stenslie will be stationed at Kodak’s Hollywood headquarters. His
responsibilities include managing Kodak’s global sales and marketing
organization, which provides a broad base of integrated products and services
for the production, postproduction, presentation and preservation sectors of the
industry.
Stenslie, a native of Oslo, Norway, joined Kodak in 1982. Stenslie initially
worked for a Kodak division that pioneered the convergence of analog and digital
technologies for managing documents. He joined the company’s Entertainment
Imaging Division in 1998.
Stenslie managed Kodak’s operations in the Far East, in an area stretching from
Australia to China, Japan and India until the summer of 2001 when he stepped
into the top management role in Europe and the Middle Eastern countries.
“I have been a passionate movie fan since I was a child, so I am very excited to
take on this new role,” Stenslie says. “This is an industry without borders.
Whether filmmakers are working on projects with minimalist budgets or Hollywood
blockbusters, moviemakers around the world speak the same language and share
common goals. They all want maximum creative freedom to tell their stories the
way they are meant to be seen and heard.
“Kodak has an incomparably deep well of motion imaging science that crosses the
boundaries between film, digital and hybrid technologies, and a unique historic
commitment to investing in the future of this industry,” he continues. “We are
listening and remain committed to providing the technology tools and services
our customers need.”
Spruill spent 33 years with Kodak. “Brian Spruill has truly made a difference at
Kodak and in the entertainment film industry,” says Rodli. “He was committed to
assuring that we listen to our customers and provide the technological tools and
services, which served their needs in a constantly evolving and dynamic
marketplace. His legacy will endure.”
Spruill literally grew up in the film industry. His father was vice president
and general manager of Byron Motion Picture Labs, in Washington, D.C. After
graduating from Michigan State University, Spruill taught and coached sports for
six years, while working summers at the film lab. He joined Kodak in 1972,
beginning in the company’s headquarters in Rochester followed by a succession of
field assignments with increasing management responsibility. He also spent time
leading long-term business planning for the Entertainment Imaging Division and
managing Kodak's FPC subsidiary. He arrived in Hollywood in 1985, and from 1996
to 2002 Spruill was the regional business general manager.
“I’ve been fortunate to spend my career surrounded by great people who shared my
feelings about the important role this industry plays in our global society,”
Spruill says. “I am proud of what we have achieved, and am excited about the
future.”
Bertrand Decoux has been named to replace Stenslie at Kodak’s office in Geneva,
Switzerland. Decoux will also continue in his current role as general manager
and vice president of Entertainment Imaging Services.
Kodak’s Entertainment Imaging Division is the world-class leader in providing
film, digital and hybrid motion imaging products, services, and technology for
the television, feature film, commercial, music video, and documentary
industries. For more information, visit www.kodak.com/go/motion.