Cates takes Geffen lead

Gil Cates Jr. has been named executive director of the Geffen Playhouse, the company’s board of directors announced Friday. Cates has been serving as interim managing director of the venerated theater company since February and has been a board member for the past few years.

Cates is the son of Gil Cates, the late producer who helped create what is now the Geffen Playhouse in the mid-1990s and who led the theater for most of that time until his death in 2011.

In a recent interview, Cates had said his new title would take effect June 1. He said that he and artistic director Randall Arney were equals in the organization and would work together to lead the company.

Cates stepped in as interim managing director in February following the departure of Ken Novice, who had held the role for more than five years. The company has declined to discuss the nature of Novice’s departure.

Cates said he was bringing a continuity of leadership to the Geffen that was started by his father. “I bring an element of what he had in terms of fundraising and ties to the film industry,” said Cates, who has directed and produced several feature films.