Apple Corps Ltd., the operating company that oversees creative and business interests of The Beatles, has tapped British executive Tom Greene as CEO, effective September 25.
He will be only the third CEO in the history of the storied company launched in 1968 to manage The Beatles’ intellectual property canon, administering the legendary band’s recorded music catalog along with film, theatrical and book publishing rights and piloting award-winning projects over the years. The firm is currently collaborating on one of the most ambitious Beatles venture yet with Sony Pictures Entertainment and filmmaker Sam Mendes — four separate theatrical films, one on each of the member of the band. It’s the first time Apple Corps and The Beatles – Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison – have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film.
Greene previously ran Pottermore Publishing and Wizarding World Digital, a JV between Warner Bros and Pottermore, expanding the Harry Potter Fan Club to over 50 million members. He’s currently COO of Blast, which works with big video game developers and publishers to grow their esports programs from offices in London, Copenhagen, Berlin, New York and Mumbai. He is on the board of Pottermore and will remain on the Blast board.
He replaces Jeff Jones, who announced plans to step down as Apple Corps CEO last fall after 17 years in the role.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tom Greene as CEO. We have a lot of exciting plans and Tom’s experience and vision make him the perfect person to join us in making it all happen,” said Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Olivia Harrison and Sean Ono Lennon in a statement.
Said Greene: “It is a huge honour to lead Apple Corps into this new phase of its history. Like so many people around the world, I grew up in a household obsessed with The Beatles and their music. At a time when the world might need more of The Beatles’ spirit, there are so many new and innovative ways to bring their unique magic to all generations of fans. I cannot wait to get started.”
Apple Corps’ music initiatives include acclaimed Special Edition releases for several Beatles albums, including Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles (‘White Album’), Abbey Road, Let It Be, and Revolver. The Beatles’ 2023 international hit single “Now And Then” reached Number One in the UK singles charts and garnered the band’s latest Grammy win and a BRIT Award nomination.
In film and documentary, Peter Jackson’s 2021 Get Back redefined modern music documentary and longform storytelling, sweeping the Emmys’ documentary categories with five awards. Last year, Apple Corps and Disney+ released David Tedeschi and Martin Scorsese’s new Beatles ’64 documentary and a lovingly restored version of Michael Lindsay-Hogg’s Let It Be.
Sony’s four-film Beatles cinematic event is set for release in April of 2028 through Sony Pictures Entertainment and Mendes’ Neal Street Productions. At an appearance at CinemaCon in March, Sony Motion Pictures boss Tom Rothman and Mendes called the biopic cycle “the first “bingeable moment in cinema.”
Written by Jez Butterworth, Jack Thorne and Peter Straughan, the films stars Harris Dickinson (John Lennon), Barry Keoghan (Ringo Starr), Paul Mescal (Paul McCartney) and Joseph Quinn (George Harrison).
The Beatles – Washington DC – Coliseum – Apple Corps Ltd
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