Warner Bros’ Italian chief Ferrari steps down

Warner Bros’ long-serving Italian boss Paolo Ferrari is retiring after 21 years at the Hollywood studio.

Ferrari will leave his position as president and managing director, Warner Bros Entertainment Italy, next spring.

In a long career in the entertainment business, Ferrari also worked for Columbia Tri-Star and MGM. He will be succeeded by Barbara Salabè.

She will join the studio in November from Stage Entertainment and oversee all of the company’s TV and movie activities in the country.

Prior to Stage, she worked at Turner and oversaw the launch of kids channel Cartoon Network in the country. She will report to Barry Meyer, Warner Bros Entertainment chairman and CEO.

He said: “Barbara has an outstanding reputation in the Italian entertainment industry, and an impressive breadth of experience across a range of sectors, including our sister company, Turner.”