Emilie Anthonis has been appointed as the president and managing director for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region by the Motion Picture Association, a Hollywood lobbying and advocacy group. Her new role will begin on January 1, succeeding Stan McCoy, who has held the position for over a decade and is stepping down.
The MPA represents major players in the film industry, including Paramount Global, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros. Discovery, Prime Video, Amazon MGM Studios, and Netflix.
Charles Rivkin, chairman and CEO of the MPA, praised Anthonis as a seasoned professional with a robust background in the European audiovisual sector. He remarked, “Emilie has built a strong reputation as a powerful advocate for the creative industry, excelling in policymaking and earning respect in European capitals.
I am confident in her ability to lead our operations effectively, advance the MPA’s priorities, and foster our member studios’ partnerships with stakeholders throughout Europe and beyond.”
Expressing her enthusiasm for her new role, Anthonis stated, “I look forward to serving the MPA members while fostering the spirit of teamwork that Stan has cultivated across all our EMEA operations. Europe is a crucial market for our members, with a rich history of storytelling and partnerships in the region.”
Reflecting on his tenure, McCoy noted, “It has been a privilege to lead this skilled trade association in the EMEA region, focusing on public policy, antipiracy, and various other areas of expertise over an exciting decade.” He plans to return to his native Washington, D.C.
Before joining the MPA in 2017, Anthonis served as the director of legal and public affairs at the Association of Commercial Television in Europe. Her prior experience includes working as in-house counsel at Viacom and beginning her career as an IP lawyer at a Brussels law firm specializing in copyright and media law.
Anthonis holds law degrees from the Universities of Leuven and Antwerp and has earned master’s degrees in both European and intellectual property law from the University of Brussels.