Focus Features Promotes Josh McLaughlin to President of Production

As the studio looks towards expanding its production slate, Focus Features has promoted Josh McLaughlin to President of Production. Based in Focus’ Los Angeles office, Mr. McLaughlin will oversee the production team and report directly to Focus President Robert Walak.

Additionally, Rebecca Arzoian has been promoted to Vice President, Production, from her previous position as Director of Development. In that latter capacity, she was integral to the company’s production of Sofia Coppola’s The Beguiled, which world-premieres next week at the Cannes International Film Festival. 

In February, Mr. Walak announced the promotion of Kiska Higgs to senior VP, acquisitions and co-productions.

Mr. McLaughlin joined Focus Features as Senior Vice President, Production in March 2012. Among the projects that he has been instrumental to at Focus have been this spring’s specialty breakout success The Zookeeper’s Wife, directed by Niki Caro; Colin Trevorrow’s The Book of Henry, which world-premieres next month as the opening-night film of the Los Angeles Film Festival; and this summer’s breakneck action thriller Atomic Blonde, directed by David Leitch and starring Charlize Theron and James McAvoy.

“Josh and Rebecca have been constants at Focus for years. Their genuine love of movies is at the core of what Focus stands for,” said Focus President Robert Walak. “Josh’s deep relationships with filmmakers and actors made him the clear choice to captain a department that he has already helped to strengthen.”