Oxford-educated Ford, a former England Schools footballer, spent six years at entertainment law firm Olswangs before joining Miramax, run by movie moguls Harvey and Bob Weinstein.
As co-head of Miramax Acquisitions, he was responsible for buying foreign-language and international films for distribution in the US and internationally. He bought hits including Amelie, City of God and Fahrenheit 911.
At just 32, he became co-head of Miramax International, a promotion which saw him named by Hollywood Reporter as one of Hollywood’s top executives under the age of 40.
In 2006, he became president of the First Look International division of First Look Studios, before founding IM the following year.
In 2004, Mr Ford and Woolton-born entrepreneur Mike Jefferies pulled together a consortium, including the wealthy Kraft family, that tried to take over Liverpool FC.
