Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> January 10, 1999
LAWRENCE J. RUISI has served as President and CEO of Loews Cineplex
Entertainment since it was formed in May 1998 through the merger of
Loews Theatres and Cineplex Odeon. Mr. Ruisi, who spearheaded the merger
for Sony, is currently overseeing the Company's domestic and
international expansion, as well as the integration of the two
companies. Mr. Ruisi has worked extensively in theatrical exhibition as
well as filmed entertainment. Prior to becoming President of Loews
Cineplex, Mr. Ruisi was President of Sony Retail Entertainment (SRE),
and oversaw SRE's Theatrical Exhibition Group, which included the Loews
and Sony theatres circuit, Star Theatres of Michigan and Magic Johnson
Theatres. In that time, he had been instrumental in both strategic
planning and development of SRE's location based entertainment complexes
around the world. Prior to becoming President of SRE, Mr. Ruisi was
Executive Vice President of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE). SPE is
one of leading motion picture companies in the U.S., encompassing the
Columbia Pictures and TriStar Pictures motion picture studios, Columbia
and TriStar Television, and worldwide distribution of its products in
theatrical, television and home video markets. As Executive Vice
President of SPE, Mr. Ruisi had operating responsibility for Loews
theatres and was instrumental in the development and opening of New York
City's Sony theatres Lincoln Square, one of the world's most successful
movie theatre complexes. With 12 conventional screens and the world's
largest 3-D IMAX Theatre, Sony Theatres Lincoln Square is the highest
grossing theatre in the U.S. Mr. Ruisi was also involved in the
conception and formation of SRE's partnership with Earvin 'Magic'
Johnson's Johnson Development Company to create the Magic Johnson
Theatres circuit. Magic Johnson theatres builds and operates state-of-
the-art movie theatres in minority communities throughout the U.S., with
current locations in Los Angeles, Atlanta and Houston. Mr. Ruisi also
served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Columbia
Pictures Entertainment (CPE), the predecessor company of SPE. During his
tenure as CFO, he was instrumental in CPE's acquisition of Loews
Theatres and was also involved in the acquisition of CPE by Sony in
1990. While CPE was a publicly held company, Mr. Ruisi was responsible
for the full range of public reporting responsibilities, as well as
arranging over a billion dollars in debt financing and supervising more
than 1000 employees in the areas of finance, accounting, MIS, human
resources and administration. Prior to the merger of Columbia Pictures
and TriStar Pictures in 1987, Mr. Ruisi was Vice President and
Controller, and then Senior Vice President of TriStar Pictures. Mr.
Ruisi was one of the key executives who started TriStar Pictures in
1983. Before his involvement in the motion picture business, he spent 13
years with Price Waterhouse as a Senior Audit Manager with clients in a
variety of businesses. Mr. Ruisi holds Bachelor and MBA degrees from St.
John's University. Profile
Cineplex?
Mr. Ruisi: Loews Cineplex Entertainment was formed earlier this year
when the Loews Theatres which was part of Sony
