Viv U Entertainment names sr. VP-CFO

Huntsberry to o'see worldwide financial activities

By CARL DIORIO

Huntsberry

HOLLYWOOD -- Frederick Huntsberry, previously senior VP and chief financial officer at Universal Studios, was upped Tuesday to exec veep and CFO at Vivendi Universal Entertainment.

Huntsberry, who joined Universal in January 1997 as veep of business development for Universal Pay Television, will oversee all worldwide financial activities for VUE. He will report to VUE prexy Ron Meyer and Guillaume Hannezo, chief financial officer of Paris-based parent Vivendi Universal.

VUE, comprising film, theme parks and TV operations, was formed recently after the acquisition of film and TV ops from Barry Diller's USA Networks. Diller serves as chairman-CEO of VUE and USA successor USA Interactive.

Meyer and most other Universal Studios corporate execs have adjusted their titles to VUE posts since the Vivendi Universal/USA transaction closed May 7. Remaining Universal Studios titles mostly involve film and TV facility management positions.

"Frederick has done a terrific job heading the finance function for our business and has been instrumental in the integration of USA's assets into Vivendi Universal Entertainment," Meyer said.

Before joining U, Huntsberry was manager of corporate mergers and acquisitions at General Electric.