Michael Eisner, a leading entertainment industry executive, was awarded an alumni citation from his alma mater, Denison University in Granville, Ohio. In a ceremony that took place in June, Denison President Adam Weinberg presented Eisner with the highest honor conferred on a graduate or friend of the college.
Eisner, a member of the Denison class of 1964, has been an innovative pioneer in the American entertainment industry for four decades. He began his career at ABC, where he helped to take the network to number one in primetime, daytime and children’s television. In 1976, he became president of Paramount Pictures, turning out a string of critically acclaimed blockbuster films. In 1984, Eisner assumed the position of chairman and chief executive officer of the Walt Disney Company, transforming it into a global media empire valued at $100 billion.
In 2005, Eisner founded the Tornante Company; a privately held company that invests in and incubates companies and opportunities in the media and entertainment space. Through Tornante, he founded Vuguru, an independent studio that develops and finances story-driven content. Vuguru programming has been distributed in over 40 countries. In the United States, Vuguru has multi-project licensing and distribution deals with AOL, Hulu, YouTube and Yahoo!
In October 2007, the Tornante Company and Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC. acquired the Topps Company, Inc., a leading creator and marketer of sports and related cards, entertainment products, and distinctive confectionery items. Additional companies within the Tornante portfolio include LLC’s Activate, Tornante Animation, WhoWhatWear, Task Rabbit, Zumbox and AirTime. In 2013, Netflix acquired animated comedy BoJack Horseman from Tornante, the streamer’s first adult-oriented animated original.
Eisner has authored three books: “Work in Progress,” “Camp,” and “WORKING TOGETHER: Why Great Partnerships Succeed.”
In 1996, Eisner and his wife, Jane, founded the Eisner Foundation, which provides access and opportunity for children and aging adults in the United States. He serves on the boards of the California Institute of the Arts, Denison University, American Hospital of Paris Foundation, the Aspen Institute, the Yale School of Architecture Dean’s Council, IAC/InterActiveCorp, the Michael D. Eisner School of Education, and the Eisner Pediatric and Family Medical Center.