Nicole Seligman Out as President of Sony Entertainment

Executive also held title of President of Sony Corporation of America

nicole seligman sony viacom

Nicole Seligman has resigned her post as president of both Sony Entertainment and Sony Corporation of America.

Seligman reported to Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton and Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai in her respective positions. She’ll vacate the job as early as March.

“I’ll really miss the great people at Sony, but I’m excited and eager to explore new opportunities,” Seligman said in a statement. “I’ve been fortunate to have two deeply rewarding 15 year runs, first in private law practice and then in a variety of roles with Sony, and now, with the move close to completion, it’s the right time to look at what will come next.”

Seligman was recruited by former Sony CEO Howard Stringer. Serving as a senior executive since 2001, she nursed the studio through it’s devastating 2014 hack and oversaw general counsel for corporate affairs.

Seligman is an experienced attorney with an impressive legal resume. Prior to landing in Hollywood, she served as counsel for Lt. Col. Oliver North during the Iran-Contra hearings in the 1980s and for President Bill Clinton during his 1999 impeachment trial.

Replacements were not immediately known. Sony did not immediately comment on the staff change.

Read the memo circulated by Lynton and Hirai below.

Dear Colleagues,

Fifteen years ago, a very accomplished attorney who had served as a clerk to US Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and represented President Bill Clinton in his impeachment trial in the US Senate, was brought to Sony Corporation of America to be Executive Vice President and General Counsel.

With her sterling legal skills and business sense, and her unflagging energy and integrity, Nicole Seligman quickly made her mark, first in Sony’s American businesses and ultimately throughout our global operations. In 2005, Nicole became General Counsel of Sony Corporation, and in 2012, she was named President of SCA. In 2014, she became President of Sony Entertainment, and for the past two years, she has also served as senior legal counsel to the Sony Group.

Nicole has been an integral – and indispensable – part of many big decisions and developments throughout Sony’s global organization, offering sage counsel to her colleagues, and demonstrating both breadth of vision and great attention to detail. A brilliant leader throughout her decade and a half of service, she has most recently been instrumental in orchestrating the sale of 550 Madison Avenue, yielding Sony a tremendous influx of revenue, and our move to Madison Square Park, opening a bright new chapter for our business in America.

On the occasion of this historic move, Nicole has decided that it’s a good time to make a change, and move on to new chapters in her life. While for us, there is no ‘good time’ for her to leave – we can’t quite imagine working here without her – we do respect her decision, and wanted to share it with you now.

Nicole has agreed to remain with us through the end of March, and will be available to assist us beyond that date to ensure a smooth transition, so you may see her in and out of the new headquarters from time to time.

And despite her natural aversion to the spotlight, we do hope to have the chance to celebrate her service soon, as we know she cares deeply about all who work for Sony, and will miss us just as she will be missed. In the meantime, please join us in thanking her for a job so well done for so very long.

With best regards,
Kazuo Hirai
Michael Lynton

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