United Artists President Steps Down

Bingham Ray, president of the United Artists specialty films unit of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., is leaving the company effective immediately, MGM announced late Thursday.

MGM said the decision was mutual and was made last year, but the company and Ray waited to disclose it. The New York-based Ray could not be reached for comment.

The company said Ray would not be replaced. The unit will be run by Dan Rosette, executive vice president of United Artists, and Sarah Rose, senior vice president.

The co-founder of October Films, Ray joined United Artists in 2001. Some of the UA films released under Ray include “Pieces of April,” the Oscar-winning documentary “Bowling for Columbine,” and “No Man’s Land,” which earned an Oscar in 2002 for best foreign film.

A source said the company wanted to expand the mix of UA films. The source added that the departure had nothing to do with Ray’s decision to oppose a ban on “screener” DVDs sent out to promote movies for awards. The Motion Picture Assn. of America, which includes MGM, clamped down on screeners this awards season as a move against piracy.