In 2005 Kurt helped found National CineMedia LLC (“NCM LLC”), the World’s largest cinema advertising network operated by partnership of the three largest cinema companies in the U.S., Regal Entertainment Group (“REG”), AMC Entertainment and Cinemark Theatres. At the time of NCM’s founding, Kurt was Co-Chairman/Co-CEO of REG and CEO of Regal CineMedia, Inc. (“RCM”), REG’s wholly-owned cinema advertising subsidiary and predecessor company to NCM LLC. NCM went public in 2007 through a complex Up-REIT structure that involved the formation of National CineMedia, Inc. (“NCMI”), a Company owned 100% by public shareholders that became a partner of the three theatre circuits in NCM LLC.

In January 2016, Kurt retired as NCM’s Chairman and CEO to pursue other interests, including spending more time with his wife and 11-year-old daughter (14 years old now). Kurt and his family have settled in Aspen Colorado, making it easy for them to pursue their many outdoor interests. Kurt is an avid skier, road biker, bow hunter and fly fisherman. In addition to these outdoor activities, Kurt has stayed active in business and presently serves as an advisor to the Board of Vector Media, a private equity-owned double decker bus advertising company based in New York City and consults with Cinemark Theatres on their cinema advertising business in South America. Kurt also serves on the board of the Aspen Education Foundation (“AEF”), a charitable organization that helps fund the Aspen School District so that it can provide a richer curriculum than is supported by Colorado Public School funding.

From NCM’s formation through retirement Kurt managed the complex NCM partnership between the three largest cinema companies and public shareholders (after the IPO), and led all of the Company’s corporate strategy and management of a high performing group of media sales, financial, operations and digital and network technology executives.

After founding NCMI and its predecessor RCM, Kurt led NCM from a media start-up to a mature public company. Kurt has a strong track record of thriving within all stages of business development - from developing the original idea through the chaos and uncertainty of start-up and early stage phases, through the more structured and disciplined realities of a public company. Throughout his business career as a CFO then CEO, Kurt has effectively leveraged his unique combination of strong financial, leadership and people skills and his competitive nature, to create companies that balance a focus on results and a strong culture that recognizes the value of its people and open communication.

Kurt has spent nearly 30 years working for public companies and companies controlled by large corporations and private equity firms in the media and entertainment business, including in the cable TV, cinema and advertising business sectors. Prior to taking NCM public in 2007, as CEO of United Artists Theatre Company (“UATC”) Kurt helped with the bankruptcy restructuring and then merger of UATC, Edwards Theatres and Regal Cinemas to form Regal Entertainment Group(“REG”). Kurt helped take REG public as its Co-Chairman and Co-CEO in 2002. Prior to being CEO of UATC, Kurt became its CFO when it was sold to private equity firm Merrill Lynch Capital Partners in 1992. Prior to the sale of UATC by its parent company United Artists Entertainment Company (“UAE”), a public cable TV and cinema company controlled by cable company Telecommunications, Inc., Kurt was VP Treasurer and Director of Finance/Public Reporting for UAE. Prior to entering the entertainment/media business Kurt worked for a short time in the Oil and Gas business. Kurt started his business career at national accounting firm Peat Marwick Mitchell (now KPMG) after graduating from the University of Vermont in 1983 with a BA in Business Administration.

While growing up in a small town in northern Vermont and a suburb of Portland Maine, Kurt became an avid sportsman and outdoorsman and highly competitive athlete. After promising early careers in baseball, soccer and ski racing in Vermont and Maine, Kurt played professional baseball for the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees for three years after graduating from high school and then returned to college. Kurt spent one semester at the University of Maine and then returned home to Vermont to finish his studies at the University of Vermont.