Feingold Positions Division to Reap Benefits of Digital Era
David Bishop Named President - North America
Matt Brown to Head European Territory
Sean Carey Joins SPHE as Executive Vice President of Digital Distribution
and Product Acquisitions
CULVER CITY, Calif., April 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Pictures Home
Entertainment (SPHE) today announced a reorganization to meet the
challenges and opportunities of the digital era.
"This month, we started selling movies through digital downloads over
the Internet, and next month, we begin to sell Blu-ray Discs for the very
first time," said Benjamin S. Feingold, President of Worldwide Home
Entertainment, Digital Distribution and Acquisitions for SPHE. "With the
digital market poised for growth, now is the time for us to organize
ourselves to reap the full benefits of this new era, and to maintain and
expand our leadership position in the home entertainment market."
"The changes in technology and consumer interests demand that we be
innovative and visionary in our approach to home entertainment," said
Michael Lynton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sony Pictures
Entertainment. "The digital market has evolved to the point where it has
earned its own place in our home entertainment business. Digital
distribution and high definition have evolved from a theoretical concept to
a new retail business, and that's why we're making the strategic moves
necessary to ensure that we aggressively market this business in the months
and years ahead. And it all begins with people -- putting the right people
in the right place at the right time."
"While nothing can replace the theatrical experience, we want people to
have the opportunity to see our movies in their homes or wherever they
desire," said Amy Pascal, Chairman of the Sony Pictures Entertainment
Motion Pictures Group. "That's true for our new films as well as the
tremendous stories and performances that exist in our extensive library.
The Internet can make it easier for more people to see more of our films,
and we're proud to be opening up this new avenue to entertainment."
As part of SPHE's reorganization, Mr. Feingold has tapped David Bishop
to oversee SPHE's North American business and Matt Brown to oversee SPHE's
European business. To ensure Sony Pictures' leadership in the digital
arena, Mr. Feingold has named Sean Carey to head its digital distribution
business at SPHE.
David Bishop, who is being named President of North America for SPHE,
had been President of Worldwide Brand Integration for Sony Pictures
Entertainment (SPE). He will report to Mr. Feingold and will oversee all
aspects of the North American business including sales, marketing, and
operations. He will also have an integral role in the international
operations of the MGM catalog. Prior to joining SPE, Mr. Bishop had been
President and Chief Operating Officer for MGM Home Entertainment and
International Theatrical.
In making the announcements, Mr. Feingold stated, "With the MGM
transition nearing completion, I am delighted that David has decided to
remain with our company. His strong reputation within the home
entertainment industry, as well as his outstanding executive skills, will
help to insure the ongoing success and growth of our core business. David's
experience with MGM product will also be a great benefit to the division."
"I am thrilled to be at SPHE because this is one of the most exciting
and dynamic times in the history of home entertainment," said Bishop. "I
also look forward to working with Ben and the whole team as we focus on the
growth of our core business and explore the new options given to us by the
digital revolution."
Matt Brown has been named Executive Vice President - Europe. Mr. Brown
will be based in London and will oversee all aspects of the European
business, including sales, marketing and management. He will report to
Adrian Alperovich, Senior Executive Vice President - International. In this
capacity, Mr. Brown will help create and execute strategic business plans
for SPHE's growth throughout Europe, especially in light of the
proliferation of new digital technologies in the region. He has most
recently been Senior Vice President of Worldwide Franchise Properties for
SPHE. Prior to joining SPHE, he was head of International Home Video for
Dreamworks, SKG.
Sean Carey, formerly Senior Vice President of Corporate Development for
Sony Pictures Entertainment, has been promoted to Executive Vice President,
Digital Distribution and Product Acquisitions for SPHE. He will report to
Mr. Feingold and will focus on two areas. First, developing and managing
the North American distribution of movies and other SPE content via the
internet as well to mobile devices such as cell phones and PSPs. In that
regard, he will also work closely with Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment,
Sony Pictures Television and Sony Pictures Television International.
Second, he will oversee all business aspects of SPHE's production and
acquisition group, as well as negotiate key acquisition agreements.
"We are at the dawn of a new age in home entertainment," said Mr.
Feingold. "Digital technology, combined with the increasing sophistication
and mobility of devices on which content can be stored and played, opens up
a whole new world for us and for consumers. By reorganizing our home
entertainment division now, we are positioning ourselves to deliver
entertainment to people wherever, whenever and however they want to enjoy
it."
Mr. Feingold also announced the following promotions in conjunction
with the reorganization of SPHE:
Robin Russell has been named Senior Executive Vice President and
General Manager Worldwide for SPHE, reporting to Mr. Feingold. Ms. Russell
will continue to oversee worldwide business affairs for the division
including omnibus vendor and key, long term supplier output agreements. She
will also be responsible for worldwide administration and international
operations for the company.
Marshall Forster has been promoted to Senior Executive Vice President,
North America reporting to Mr. Bishop. Mr. Forster will continue to be
responsible for all sales activities in the United States and Canada. This
includes SPHE business development strategies, sales planning, retail
marketing and customer service operations for the domestic sell-through and
rental markets. Additionally, Mr. Forster will closely supervise all SPHE
new format sales activities including those for UMD and Blu-ray Discs in
North America.
Adrian Alperovich has been promoted to Senior Executive Vice President
- International, reporting to Mr. Feingold. Mr. Alperovich will continue to
oversee all international sales and other business initiatives pursuant to
the division outside of North America. He will also work closely with Mr.
Feingold in the development of new packaged media opportunities for the
division on a worldwide basis.
Lexine Wong has been promoted to Senior Executive Vice President -
Worldwide Marketing. Ms. Wong will continue to manage all worldwide SPHE
marketing activities, which include the creation and implementation of
marketing strategies for theatrical and non-theatrical titles released on
all home video formats, programming, creative services, the development and
production of added value materials for DVD and Blu-ray products,
advertising and publicity. She will supervise all marketing for new formats
and their rollout including Blu-ray Disc and digital downloading of Sony
Pictures content.
Ms. Wong will report to Mr. Bishop on all domestic marketing activities
and to Mr. Feingold on all international and new format marketing
activities. Additionally, she will work closely with Mr. Alperovich on
international marketing strategies.
Don Eklund has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Advanced
Technologies reporting to Mr. Feingold. Mr. Eklund, previously Senior Vice
President, Advanced Technologies, will continue to oversee the development
of new home entertainment formats such as the UMD and the Blu-ray Disc and
act as principal liaison between SPHE, Sony Electronics and Sony Computer
Entertainment worldwide as well as other technology companies.
James Mercs, previously Senior Vice President and General Manager of
the Sony Pictures Digital Authoring Center (DAC), has been named Executive
Vice President and General Manager of the area. Mr. Mercs will report to
Mr. Feingold and continue to manage the DAC and its relationships with
outside clients. In addition to developing the business profile of the
center, he will oversee a team charged with insuring that the authoring
technologies utilized by the DAC continue to be the most current and the
finest in the industry, including new codecs for packaged and digital
media.
In making the announcements, Mr. Feingold stated, "This restructuring
has the added benefit of allowing me to spend more time on expanding the
new digital downloading business as well as broadening our production,
acquisitions and Screen Gems program which, under President Clint
Culpepper's extraordinary leadership, has become one of the most successful
divisions at SPE.
Matt Brown is one of the most respected and well-liked home
entertainment executives in our industry and his experience in and
knowledge of the European market will prove invaluable in sustaining the
growth of our company in that critical region. SPHE is very lucky to have
Matt on its team.
I am also delighted that Sean is joining our group. We have worked
together on many projects over several years and he will be a strong asset
to the growth of our digital delivery business. Additionally, Sean's broad
experience in the motion picture financing and co-production business will
be of special benefit as we widen our production, acquisitions and Screen
Gems businesses.
Robin Russell's outstanding legal mind, astute administrative skills
and extensive relationships in the Hollywood community have been
instrumental in the development and execution of SPHE's very successful
worldwide business strategies. I depend on Robin's formidable abilities to
address the complex, operational issues of running a multi-billion dollar a
year business as well as to help address the challenges of a quickly
changing home entertainment landscape. This promotion serves to underscore
her important contributions to SPHE.
Marshall, Adrian, and Lexine's promotions reflect the fact that they
are enormously talented executives. They have worked closely with me since
1994 to grow our worldwide business including our move into new
territories, the market development of three formats (DVD, UMDs and
Blu-ray) and our retail expansion.
Don Eklund has been a key architect of SPHE's format development in
DVD, UMD and now Blu-ray. He has served as an important liaison with Sony
Electronics and other world class CE and IT companies in the development of
next generation formats and product introductions. I am delighted to be
able to publicly acknowledge these very important contributions to the
growth of our company with this promotion.
Similarly, James Mercs has made Sony's Digital Authoring Center one of
the premier multi-format authoring centers in the world. This promotion
reflects our appreciation for James' outstanding management of the DAC
where he has increased our authoring business exponentially while
collapsing time-lines and increasing the quality of our products.
As business migrates forward, this organizational change at SPHE will
create the right team to respond quickly and effectively to today's ever
changing environment. We look forward to the challenges of expansion from
our core business to adjacent and nascent businesses and the continuation
of our tradition of effective partnership among all key senior executives
in our global group," concluded Mr. Feingold.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is a Sony Pictures Entertainment
company. SPE is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, (SCA), a
subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations
encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production
and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide
channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution;
operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products,
services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 72
countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web
at http://www.sonypictures.com.
SOURCE Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
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CONTACT:
Fritz Friedman of Sony Pictures Home
Entertainment, +1-310-244-7799
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