Ron Schwartz (Lionsgate photo)
Longtime Leader Ron Schwartz Leaving Lionsgate at the End of March
January 15, 2026
Ron Schwartz, president and chief operating officer of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group, is leaving the studio at the end of March.
A 27-year veteran of Lionsgate and its predecessor companies, Schwartz has been a key driver in the company’s worldwide motion picture licensing, acquisition, financing, operations and home entertainment businesses. During that time, he oversaw the company’s evolution from a packaged-media leader to a multi-platform and digital powerhouse.
Schwartz’s leadership and industry expertise have been integral to the studio’s growth trajectory. He played a critical role in overseeing the successful integration of several big transactions, including Lionsgate’s acquisitions of Artisan Entertainment, Summit Entertainment (which brought to the studio the hugely successful “Twilight” franchise) and eOne. During Schwartz’s long run with the studio’s motion picture and home entertainment divisions, Lionsgate’s films have grossed more than $15 billion at the worldwide box office.
“Ron Schwartz is a visionary leader who was largely responsible for the company’s growth from an independent to a major studio,” said one industry observer.
Prior to assuming his current role five years ago, Schwartz was president of Global Licensing & Distribution, shepherding a team responsible for the domestic and international licensing of Lionsgate’s slate of feature films and more than 20,000-title film and television library. Before that, he was president of worldwide home entertainment, running a billion-dollar-plus annual revenue operation widely regarded as an innovator in home entertainment distribution, marketing and windowing strategies.
“Ron has been a pillar of the studio’s growth and evolution for more than 25 years, embodying our entrepreneurial culture and selfless team spirit,” said Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer. “He has earned the respect and affection of his colleagues, business and talent partners alike, and he will be deeply missed.”
“It was a difficult decision to leave the studio after a remarkable 27-year run,” Schwartz said. “Throughout my numerous roles, the notable constant has been the amazing colleagues I’ve worked with across every part of our business. We’ve accomplished many great things together, and as I look at the growth trajectory in recent months, I know that I am leaving the Motion Picture Group in its best shape in many years with substantial opportunity ahead. I also know that it is time to move on to the next chapter of my career, explore new opportunities, and take on new challenges.”
Schwartz held a series of progressively more responsible positions at Trimark Pictures from 1992 until the independent film and home video distribution company was acquired by what was then Lions Gate Entertainment in June 2000 for $50 million in stock and cash. Trimark was fully folded into Lions Gate in March 2001. At Trimark, Schwartz rose to SVP of home video.
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