Beverage maker appoints Hollywood director

Drinks maker 42 Below has appointed a Hollywood executive to its board.

The company said Rich Frank was a former chairman of Walt Disney Television and was president of Walt Disney Studios from 1985 to 1994.

Before that he was vice-president and president of Paramount Television Group.

He was also former chairman of Hollywood super-agency The Firm, whose clients included Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Snoop Dogg and Linkin Park.

The appointment was designed to provide the company with new impetus in the global entertainment industry, 42 Below chief executive Geoff Ross said.

The entertainment industry was an important model the company was using to build the global positioning of its brands.

Mr Frank said he had watched 42 Below's fresh approach to marketing its brand, which had a great story behind it.

42 Below this month reported a narrower full-year net after tax loss of $3.29 million for the 12 months to March 31, compared with $5.22 million for the previous financial year.

Revenue, excluding interest, jumped 40 per cent to $17 million from $12 million -- including a one-off $1.23m foreign exchange gain.

More than half of the company's income comes from export sales to the United Kingdom, United States and Australia.

- NZPA