David Maisel

David Maisel
Alma mater	Harvard University
Occupation	entertainment executive

David Maisel is an American entertainment businessman best known for developing Marvel Studios production slate financing plan and for arranging the sale of Marvel Entertainment to The Walt Disney Company.

David Maisel was raised in Saratoga Springs, New York. He then attended then graduated from Duke University. He attended Harvard University and earned an MBA in 1987. His first job was with Boston Consulting Group.

Maisel was later employed at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and The Walt Disney Company following Michael Ovitz around. He joined CAA in 1994 as a corporate advisory agent working with Ovitz, the agency's head. Masiel assisted, amongst other deal, Ovitz with Matsushita’s sale of MCA/Universal to Seagram in 1995. He followed Ovitz to Disney as director of corporate development and strategic planning while Ovitz served as president of the company for 18 months. With Ovitz leaving and purchasing a large stake in Livent, Masiel followed as president.

Masiel stepped down as president along with its CEO of Livent on June 25, 1999. He had found the company full of fraud and it filed for bankruptcy.

From 1999 to 2001, Masiel was managing director of chello, a European broadband service provider. In October 2001, he switch his employment to Endeavor Talent Agency as corporate strategy and business development head.

In 2003, Avi Arad introduced Maisel to Isaac Perlmutter who hired Maisel as Marvel Studios Chief Operating Officer to execute Maisel's plan to increase returns on the films. Inspired by George Lucas and Star Wars, Maisel was considering the possibilities for revenue if Marvel made their own movie thus he block a couple of licensing deals. He then arranged a "proof of concept" with a direct to DVD animated film line with Lionsgate as Lionsgate funded most of the costs.

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