Kaplan exits Sony as Le Goy expands role

Andy Kaplan is one of three president-level executives leaving Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), with worldwide distribution chief Keith Le Goy rising in the reshuffle.

Kaplan (pictured) has been with Sony or its affiliates for nearly 30 years, and has greatly expanded the US studio’s channels operations in his most recent role.

However, he will leave his post as president of worldwide TV channels with Sony Pictures Television chairman Mike Hopkins taking on these networks plus Crackle, Sony’s streaming service.

Regional channels chiefs now report into Hopkins, whose remit encompasses 101 channels and 189 feeds operating in 178 territories, plus management of the Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy format franchises.

Also exiting is president and TV marketing chief Sheraton Kalouria and home entertainment boss Man Jit Singh, whose exit means Le Goy will take on that area of the business as well as leading worldwide sales operations.

Le Goy (left) now reports into Hopkins, who joined from US VOD service Hulu towards the end of last year, and Sony Motion Picture Group chairman Tom Rothman.

The changes come after former Fox Networks Group chief Tony Vinciquerra became CEO and chairman of SPE in June last year.

Since then, Vinciquerra has been assessing the Sony structure. He told staff in an internal memo that the new configuration would remove layers of management and make the business “nimbler and better aligned with a rapidly-evolving industry”, while also streamlining.

The TV division has already undergone significant change, with former co-presidents Jamie Erlicht and Zack van Amburg moving to lead Apple’s original content push, a trio of execs replacing them at the newly rebranded Sony Pictures Television Studios, and a reshuffle that saw Wayne Garvie named international production president.

The changes also come soon after Sony Corp. CEO Kazuo Hirai announced he was stepping back to a chairman role, with CFO Kenichiro Yoshida replacing him.

Questions have since been asked about Japan-based Sony Corp.’s willingness to back its at-times challenged entertainment operations, as Hirai was considered a big supporter of film, TV and music as profit bases.

Sony is also an electronics manufacturer and in the computer games console business, but suggestions SPE is an acquisitions target for rivals have been rejected.

At NATPE Miami last month, Vinciquerra said the business was “not somebody’s purchase”, and was instead eyeing “growth” opportunities.