Back Stage, the entertainment trade publication for actors, has made two new hires.
Jim Jazwiecki will serve as chief technology officer and Joshua Shames will serve as vp and general manager of Actorfest, Back Stage’s two-city convention for performing artists, which is expanding to five cities.
In addition, the publication has parted ways with editor in chief Jamie Young.
The weekly magazine is co-owned by Prometheus Global Media, parent of The Hollywood Reporter, and a group of investors led by John Amato, who serves as Back Stage’s CEO.
“We are really excited to have both Jim and Joshua joining the Back Stage team and their experience is poised to help us lead the turnaround of this property,” Amato said.
Jazwiecki joins Back Stage from Artist Arena, a technology company that builds fan websites for musicians, including Justin Bieber and the Kings of Leon. He was previously the chief operating officer at music website Stereogum.com.
Shames joins the publication from invitation-only shopping website RueLaLa.com, where he was manager of brand partnerships and a founding member of the company’s New York office.
Amato, who in October purchased an interest in Back Stage, said the hires are “a major step for us.”
Email: Daniel.Miller@thr.com
Twitter: @DanielNMiller
