Yesterday, the news broke that Michael Lynton who is now co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment along with Amy Pascal will be promoted to running all of Sony’s entertainment operations in the US. These new changes are being made as Howard Stringer retires and hands over the reigns of the company to Kazuo Hirai who will focus more on the electronics side of the business. Nicole Seligman who is now the general counsel will also add responsibilities to her role.
Here’s what the Financial Times says via CNN:
Mr Lynton is expected to add the title of chief executive of SCA to his responsibilities at the group’s film and TV studio. His operational partnership with Amy Pascal, co-chairman of SPE, is not expected to change, insiders said, but Ms Pascal will report to Mr Lynton, who will remain in Los Angeles.
So let me get this right. The “ operational partnership” with Amy Pascal will remain the same yet now she reports to him? How is that a partnership? It seems to me that he is now her boss. I guess we will wait and see how this all plays out over the next couple of months.
Here’s what Deadline Hollywood says:
My insiders say this job promotion is because Lynton has become a favorite of Kazuo Hirai, who takes over as Sony Corp President/CEO at the start of April. Stringer will retain the chairman title. My insider says, “Hirai who’s very Americanized really likes Michael. He’s his kind of guy because Michael is all business and not flashy.”
This is a very typical look at how men get promoted and how the old boys club grows and grows. “He’s his kind of guy” is exactly what these guys are looking for. Other guys that make them comfortable. I’m not saying Ms. Pascal had any ambition for the job. I’m not saying anything against Michael Lynton who I’ve only heard nice things about. This is just the way the business world works. Guys promote guys.
Michael Lynton To Run All Sony U.S. Biz: But Can He Save The Company From Itself? (Deadline Hollywood)
