Vale Greg Coote

Greg Coote, one of the original shareholders in 2Day FM with Mike Willisee, has died of cancer aged 72.

Pictured at right is Greg Coote with Willisee and the first 2Day Program Director Cherie Romaro.

Coote had a long history in the media, and the film history.

In addition to being a shareholder and director of 2Day FM when it launched, he was the founding President and CEO of Village Roadshow, former Managing Director of the TEN Network and the head of the film division of Columbia TriStar.

Coote was responsible for many deals that funded Hollywood blockbusters in recent years, including Avatar. He also had a major influence on Australian television, with production responsibility for shows such as The Delinquents, Brides of Christ, and True Believers.

Former Austereo CEO Brad March spoke of Coote, saying:

"Greg was one of the founders of FM radio via Village Roadshow and 2dayfm. He rose to the top of the entertainment industry, a classic mailroom to the boardroom success story".

There will be a memorial service in Los Angeles this week, and a second service in Sydney to follow.