Los Angeles – Rick Sands, chief operating officer, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) has left the studio to pursue other opportunities in entertainment and content. During Sands tenure at MGM, he reported to Harry E. Sloan, chairman & CEO of MGM, and has served as COO since January 2006. He accomplished various strategic goals including the revitalizing a full service theatrical marketing and distribution infrastructure for North American releases of MGM’s films. Sands also established a home entertainment structure in conjunction with Twentieth Century Fox, as well as developed MGM’s global TV sales and digital media divisions. Prior to joining MGM, Sands was president and COO of DreamWorks SKG where he oversaw all aspects of the studio’s business and creative operations prior to its sale to Paramount Pictures.