Sony Pictures Digital Productions (SPDP) president Bob Osher has left the company. A Variety report states that he was asked to put in his papers. He was overseeing Sony Pictures Animation (SPA) and Sony Pictures Imageworks (SPI) for over seven years.
Last month, the company hired Kristine Belson who will now independently look after the animation division, which will not be a part of Digital Productions anymore. Meanwhile, group executive vice president Randy Lake will be the new head of SPDP.
Bob has been associated with Sony from 2004 starting off as COO of Columbia Pictures Motion Picture Group. He joined Sony after serving as co-president of production for Miramax, co-founder and executive vice president of Turner Pictures Group where he co-headed Turner Feature Animation. In the 1990s, Bob worked at Walt Disney Studios.
Letter by Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman Michael Lynton
I wanted to share with you some news about changes to Sony Pictures Digital Productions (SPDP).
Bob Osher, currently President of SPDP, has decided to leave the studio to pursue other interests. I want to thank Bob for his 11 years of service and acknowledge the important role he played in strengthening the financial and operational foundation of SPDP, including launching successful franchises for Sony Pictures Animation (Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, Smurfs and Hotel Transylvania) as well as turning Sony Pictures Imageworks into a profitable leading visual-effects company. Please join me in thanking him for his many contributions and wishing him the best in his future endeavors.
Separately, we are making some operational changes to SPDP’s businesses in order to increase collaboration across the studio and unite teams that work closely together. Imageworks will now be part of the Motion Picture Group. Post Production Services, Worldwide Product Fulfillment, Production Services, and Asset Management will now be aligned with both the Motion Picture Group and Sony Pictures Television. Randy Lake, Executive Vice President of SPDP, will continue in his new role leading the organization, reporting jointly to both the Television and Motion Picture Group.
