Sony’s Michael Lynton Promises to ‘Renew and Redefine': Read Internal Staff Memo

Studio chief thanks employees for resilience, looks forward to New Year in company wide note

| January 6, 2015 @ 1:56 PM Last Updated: January 6, 2015 @ 2:23 PM

Sony Pictures CEO Michael Lynton sent an energizing memo company-wide on Monday, according to media reports.

Lynton recalled the “extraordinary events” that crippled the studio last November, a hack that divulged personal employee records and ultimately delayed the release of “The Interview.” He also profusely thanked staff for long hours, creative solutions and resilience in the invasion.

Also Read: Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai Speaks Out for First Time on Hack Attack at CES 2015

“Over the past six weeks, I have seen incredible tenacity, resilience, and grit. This inspires me, and gives me great confidence that we will not only recover, but thrive because of what we’ve been through,” Lynton wrote. “We will take what we have learned from this experience and innovate our business together. We will continue to renew and redefine Sony Pictures.”

See photos: Sony Hack Attack Timeline: From First Cyberbreach and Leaks to ‘The Interview’ Release (Photos)

Lynton and his co-CEO Amy Pascal pulled the controversial Seth Rogen comedy after hackers threatened terror attacks on theaters slated to show the film over Christmas. After public and Presidential support for the film’s release, Sony rolled “The Interview” out to about 300 theaters, and streamed the film on platforms like YouTube and Google Play.

Their efforts paid off: In its first two weeks, “The Interview” has made an unprecedented $31 million in video on demand and online sales.

Read the full memo:

Hello everyone, and happy New Year!

I hope you enjoyed time with your family and friends during the holidays.

As we return from our holiday break, I wanted to take a moment to update you on our recovery process, reflect on the past six weeks, and begin to talk about the new year.

We released The Interview through a variety of platforms, and we continue to look for other distribution options. Throughout this whole process, we never stopped – not for a single moment – trying to secure a broad release. Our studio takes great pride in continuing to grow the release of this movie and making it a success. I am so proud of the teams that worked long hours through the holiday break to make this a reality, and for the positive response from the public.

The teams that worked on the innovative distribution of The Interview are just a few of the many that put in long hours over our studio holiday to ensure business continuity, rebuild our systems, and protect our company. I am grateful for the sacrifices many of you made to make this all happen.

While there have been and will continue to be challenges as we recover from these extraordinary events, what we have all learned through this process is how strong this company and its people are. Over the past six weeks, I have seen incredible tenacity, resilience, and grit. This inspires me, and gives me great confidence that we will not only recover, but thrive because of what we’ve been through.

We have demonstrated – through the release of The Interview in particular – the value of collaboration through our incredibly diverse business. We have demonstrated the value of innovation through finding creative work-arounds. We have demonstrated the value of drive, as it has gotten us through the past few weeks and will be what takes us to the next level.

We will take what we have learned from this experience and innovate our business together. We will continue to renew and redefine Sony Pictures.

In the coming weeks and months, we’ll have many conversations about the state of our business: what works and what needs to improve. As I’ve seen over the past weeks, I would like the hallmark of this change to be collaboration. I want each of you to think about your teams, your contributions, and your ability to influence your networks – both internal to and external to the company – at Sony Pictures. Your leaders and I want to hear your thoughts on what we can do better and differently to make a stronger Sony Pictures. Together, let’s shape the future of our company.

I look forward to a 2015 filled with possibilities, and am excited for Sony Pictures to show the world exactly what it’s made of. Thanks again for all that you do, and welcome back.

Sony Hack Attack Timeline: From First Cyberbreach and Leaks to 'The Interview' Release (Photos)

  • Michael Lynton The Grill
  • sony hack email nightmare
  • Sony Pictures
  • Sony
  • James Franco, Seth Rogen, "The Interview"
  • James Franco, Seth Rogen
  • Amy Pascal and Michael Lynton
  • Sony Chiefs Amy Pascal, Michael Lynton 'Deeply Saddened' Over Hacking Attack
  • Sony Pictures
  • Sony's logo on a wall
  • "hacked by #GOP" message found on Sony computers
  • Sony's logo on a wall
  • Sony Chiefs Amy Pascal, Michael Lynton 'Deeply Saddened' Over Hacking Attack
  • Tom Hanks
  • Amy Pascal, Steve Mosko of Sony
  • Sony's logo on a wall
  • Sony Marketing Layoffs
  • Sony Pictures
  • Movie posters for the premiere of the film 'The Interview' at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles, California on December 11, 2014. The film, starring US actors Seth Rogen and James Franco, is a comedy about a CIA plot to assassinate its leader Kim Jong-Un, played by Randall Park. North Korea has vowed 'merciless retaliation' against what it calls a 'wanton act of terror' -- although it has denied involvement in a massive cyber attack on Sony Pictures, the studio behind the film. AFP PHOTO/STR (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
  • The Throwaways
  • Skyfall Daniel Craig James Bond 25
  • sony hack email nightmare
  • ArcLight Cinemas
  • Sony Chiefs Amy Pascal, Michael Lynton 'Deeply Saddened' Over Hacking Attack
  • Sony's logo on a wall
  • The Interview movie poster, Sony logo, President Obama
  • the interview hollywood tweets
  • Team America World Police
  • The Interview movie poster, Sony logo, President Obama
  • Mike Myers as Dr. Evil on "The Interview."
  • reince priebus chief of staff donald trump health care bill punt end zone football twitter
  • Sony attorney David Boies
  • sony hack email nightmare
1 of 68

As Sony CEO Michael Lynton prepares to exit, here’s TheWrap’s blow-by-blow of 2014’s devastating cyberattack on the studio

As Sony CEO Michael Lynton announces his resignation, let's look back at one of the darkest periods of his tenure: the Sony hack. 

View In Gallery

Related Content

Keep
Reading...

Looks like you’re enjoying reading
Keep reading by creating
a free account or logging in.
Continue