PARAMOUNT NAMES LESHER PRESIDENT OF CLASSICS LABEL.

Byline: Greg Hernandez Staff Writer

Paramount Pictures Chairman and CEO Brad Grey continued to build his executive team with the appointment Wednesday of talent agent John Lesher to head the studio's specialty film label.

Lesher's hiring as president of Paramount Classics had been widely expected and he will start his new job in a few weeks. He is currently a partner at Endeavor Agency where he gained a reputation for discovering and nurturing groundbreaking directors and writers and said he wants to continue that tradition at Paramount.

``I want it to be a place where filmmakers want to work,'' he said. ``That's really the core and that's what I've done as an agent. I want to take some of those skills as an agent and apply them to this other facet of the business.''

Paramount Classics recently released such films as ``Mad Hot Ballroom'' and ``Hustle & Flow,'' but the label has not enjoyed the same success as rivals Fox Searchlight Pictures and Focus Features.

Lesher will be responsible for film development, production and acquisitions at the label, which will maintain its own marketing and distribution departments. He will report directly to Grey.

``Over the last 15 years, John has earned the trust and respect of the most successful and cutting-edge filmmakers in our business,'' Grey said in a statement. ``He has packaged some of the most critically acclaimed films of the last decade. We are fortunate to have John join us as we create a new specialty business here at Paramount.''

Lesher fills an opening created after the October firings of former Paramount Classics heads Ruth Vitale and David Dinerstein.

Grey has made several key hirings from outside the studio system this year starting with Paramount Pictures President Gail Berman, whom he hired away from Fox Broadcasting Co. He also hired former Revolution Pictures executive Rob Moore as the studio's president of worldwide marketing, distribution and operations.

Grey himself, who replaced longtime studio chief Sherry Lansing in February, came directly to Paramount from Beverly Hills-based Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, one of the industry's most successful management and production firms, of which he had been chairman.

Lesher will also work closely with Moore and Berman, Grey said.

``I think it's a great opportunity and I'm excited to work with the whole team,'' Lesher said.

While at Endeavor, Lesher worked with such directors as Martin Scorsese, Paul Thomas Anderson, Jon Glazer, Bennett Miller and David O. Russell. He had previously spent 15 years at United Talent Agency where he was a partner for five of those years.

At Paramount, Lesher said he will seek ``a healthy mix'' of genres and innovative filmmakers.

``I'm excited by the challenge to take the label in a new direction and help Paramount re-define its niche market business,'' he said.

``We intend to create a specialty business that targets a wide array of audiences and demographics.''

Greg Hernandez, [phone]

greg.hernandez(at)dailynews.com