After 34 years at Sony Pictures Entertainment, veteran publicist Fritz Friedman is stepping down as senior VP of worldwide publicity at the end of this summer.
Friedman led publicity for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisition, and he just joined Sony Pictures’ corporate communications staff in January following the departure of Steve Elzer.
Also read: Sony PR Veteran Steve Elzer to Depart in December After 12 Years
Friedman will step down on Aug. 31 and plans to join the faculty at USC’s Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism. He’ll also keep busy as a member of the Cal Humanities Board.
Friedman worked on SPHE’s hit “Spider-Man” and “Men in Black” franchises and helped usher the studio through the launches of DVD, Blu-ray, UltraViolet and electronic sell-through.
Also read: Sony Veteran Steve Elzer Launches New PR Company Elzer and Associates
Friedman’s exit is the latest in a string of Sony departures that include SPHE executives David Bishop and Matt Brown — all part of the studio’s cost-cutting measures in the wake of financial problems that drew the ire of high-profile investor Daniel Loeb.