MOORE JOINS ROTH IN NEW VENTURE

Former Disney chief Joe Roth's new, yet-to-be-named production-entertainment company is taking shape as Rob Moore, former Executive VP Operations and Finance at Walt Disney Studios, has been hired by the independent production company to head its operations.

Moore, who had been interviewing a number of executives around town, is expected to hire 25-30 people for the startup, The Hollywood Reporter reports.

Although Moore has no official title, he will act as Roth's No. 2 man in what is effectively a chief operating officer capacity. In that capacity, Moore will run the day-to-day operations of the film company, look for additional entertainment business opportunities in other media such as television and music and develop the company's Internet strategy. At Disney, Moore helped Roth form the studio's music division, Buena Vista Music Group, and was key in the hiring of Bob Cavallo as Chairman and CEO of the department.

No executives have been named, but it is rumored that departed Buena Vista Motion Picture Group Co-President Todd Garner will join Roth's Santa Monica-based venture. Garner has said his plans remain up in the air.

The company is expected to produce six movies during its first year of operation. During the next two weeks, it will unveil its strategic partners for domestic distribution and its international distribution relationships. Once the movie company is fully capitalized, it will outline its strategic partners for Internet activities.

Though Roth's venture has yet to secure domestic distribution, Sony is understood to have been pursuing a deal that will involve the domestic partner also taking a number of international territories.

Moore's exit from Disney at the end of January after a 13-year stint marked the first significant executive departure since Walt Disney Co. chairman michael eisner',390,400);">michael eisner',390,400);">Michael Eisner promoted Peter Schneider to studio Chairman in the wake of Roth's departure.

At Disney, Moore was responsible for the business and daily operating activities of the studio, including live-action and animated feature films, TV animation, "Wonderful World of Disney" TV productions, theatrical and video marketing, distribution, music operations and Disney's stage play business.