Playback has named Darren Throop, CEO of Entertainment One, as its Person of the Year for 2008 in recognition of his work atop the suddenly powerful production and distribution house.

‘Not since Alliance Atlantis pulled the plug on its production business has there been a stronger presence in the domestic market,’ said Playback publisher Peter Vamos, upon making the announcement. ‘And it took less than a year to get there.’

The decision, made by the magazine’s editorial board, notes that Throop has led E1 ‘seemingly out of nowhere’ to the top of the industry — acquiring DHX, Blueprint Entertainment and Barna-Alper Productions along the way and putting such bright lights as John Morayniss, Noreen Halpern and Laszlo Barna under its tent. E1 also picked up domestic distributors Oasis International and Maximum Films this year.

Throop has been CEO of E1 since July 2003. He and the company will be the focus of a special report in the Dec. 15 issue of Playback.

Previous Persons of the Year include Christina Jennings of Shaftesbury Films, CTV’s Susanne Boyce and Cineplex boss Ellis Jacob.

The announcement follows word earlier this month that Anne Marie La Traverse and Bill Mustos – of Pink Sky Entertainment and Avamar Entertainment, respectively — have jointly been named as Playback’s Producer of the Year, for their accomplishments behind the CTV/CBS hit Flashpoint.