Tony Vinciquerra to Replace Michael Lynton as Sony Pictures Entertainment Chairman, CEO

Vinciquerra will report to Sony Corp. President and CEO Kazuo Hirai

Tony Vinciquerra

Tony Vinciquerra will replace Michael Lynton as the Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, the studio announced Thursday.

One individual familiar with the negotiations said the deal was closed last week. Like Lynton, Vinciquerra will report to Sony Corp. President and CEO Kazuo Hirai. Lynton announced in January that he would step down from the position this spring.

Vinciquerra will oversee the studio’s corporate groups and its lines of businesses, including SPE’s Motion Picture Group, Sony Pictures Television and SPE’s Worldwide Media Networks division.

Vinciquerra currently serves as senior advisor to Texas Pacific Group in the technology, media and telecom sectors where he has focused on TPG’s capital, growth and opportunity sectors. Prior to TPG, he spent almost 10 years at Fox where he served as Chairman and CEO of Fox Networks Group. And before Fox, he was with Hearst Corporations broadcasting group and CBS’ television group.

“Tony is a proven, results-oriented leader with extensive experience running and driving growth in large, complex media and entertainment businesses,” said Hirai in a statement. “His operating skills, effectiveness working with creative teams and expertise in managing digital disruption and new technologies make him the perfect choice to lead SPE, and build on the studio’s turnaround efforts to date. I want to thank Michael for his years of service and dedication to the success of our entertainment businesses, and for his commitment to our CEO search and this transition.”

Vinciquerra added, “I am thrilled to be joining SPE at such an exciting and dynamic time for the studio, and for the industry as a whole. Everything about how we produce, distribute and consume content is changing, and I see tremendous opportunities working with the enormously talented teams at SPE, Sony Corp and the other Sony companies. I want to thank Kaz for giving me this opportunity and I look forward to hitting the ground running.”

Vinciquerra also holds a number of board seats including board director of Univision Communications, Inc., and founding board director of STX Entertainment. He was elected to the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame in 2009.

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