Starz president Curtis retiring after 20 years

Long-serving Starz president Glenn Curtis is set to retire after more than 20 years with Liberty Global-backed company.

An SEC filing revealed Curtis would retire on July 1, with the exec receiving a US$828,750 lump sum and further monthly payments based on his current salary after that.

Curtis was named president of US-based premium cable channel Starz in 2012 after a period as executive VP and CFO, and was chief financial officer of Starz Encore Group between 1995 and 2002. He also worked as a VP at Liberty Media, which at the time was Starz’s parent.

Starz spun out of Liberty Media, which is part of John Malone’s Liberty Global cable group, in August 2012.

The company has since become the subject of intense takeover speculation, with CBS and Lionsgate Entertainment repeated linked with a deal. AMC Networks and 21^st Century Fox are also thought to have considered buying the network.