SAN FRANCISCO – Chris Ward, who over a span of 20 years went from performer to director before becoming the president of a powerful, iconic gay studio conglomerate, will retire Dec. 31. Tim Valenti will succeed him as president of Falcon Studios Group effective Jan. 1, 2016.

Ward began his career in 1996 as a Hot House Entertainment performer. His first starring role, in the studio’s The Hole Punch (1996), caught the attention of gay consumers right away. Ward subsequently became one of Hot House’s primary directors, working directly with founder and iconic gay film auteur Steven Scarborough.

In 1999, Ward left Hot House to co-found Raging Stallion Studios with JD Slater and Kent Taylor. The studio quickly became a major, award-winning player in the industry, eventually diversifying its online and offline product lines to include a number of fetish labels including Monster Bang Video, Centurion PicturesXXX, Fisting Central, HairyBoyz, Pistol Media, FetishForce, Twinks.com and High Octane.

Video-on-demand provider AEBN acquired Raging Stallion in 2009, and Ward remained as president of the company’s gay studio division. In 2010, AEBN acquired both Hot House and then-35-year-old Falcon Studios and merged the three powerhouse producers under the Falcon Studios Group brand. Ward assumed the presidency, and later became co-owner of the parent company.

Falcon Studios Group released more than 100 DVDs in 2015, making it the world’s most productive provider of gay erotica.

Ward directed more than 150 gay adult films and received more fifty industry awards of his own. He received the GAYVN Best Director Award three years running. In addition, he oversaw the production of hundreds of award-winning titles. On the fetish side, he directed more fisting films than any other single director.

“I have lived a dream working in our industry,” Ward said. “I started out in a basement and grew my company into something far larger than I ever thought possible. So many people helped me during these many years, and I would not be able to be in a position to retire without their hard work and support. There are too many people to name, but without them my career would not have been possible.”

Ward remains one of the co-owners of AEBN but has no plans to participate in the industry beyond serving as an adviser to Falcon through Spring 2016.

“I can be a very controlling person, and I want to clear out and give Tim [Valenti] the space he needs to take Falcon into the future,” Ward said. “I am thankful for that and want to spend the next 30 years doing something different…and maybe telling stories about ‘the good old days.’”

Valenti, chief executive officer of gay studio and video-on-demand provider NakedSword and co-owner of AEBN, will remain at NakedSword’s helm even while assuming the presidency at Falcon.

“I will still be running NakedSword and overseeing the day-to-day operations of both companies,” he said. “NakedSword is my baby and will always be a priority to me. In fact, we are working on a lot of new and exciting changes for 2016, and NakedSword is strongly positioned for a bright future.

“I have a great respect for the legacy that Chris Ward is leaving behind and for the legacy of the Falcon brand in general,” Valenti continued. “Chris and I have worked together for many years, and I know what it takes to run the group he has worked so hard to build. I’m excited about this opportunity for all of the brands involved.

“Myself and everyone at NakedSword wish Chris all the best the world has to offer during his well-earned retirement,” he added.

Ward, who holds a Ph.D. in history and has published several books, plans to spend his retirement writing. He said he will split his time between San Francisco and France, enjoying his partner Mo Duran, his cats and his wine cellar.

Image: Chris Ward, left, on the set of Hot House’s The Hole Punch (1996); Tim Valenti in 2015.