Ravi Ahuja Named New CEO of Sony Pictures, Veteran Indian American Exec

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A significant leadership transition is underway at Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) as Tony Vinciquerra, the current chairman and CEO, prepares to step down from his position on January 2, 2025. Ravi Ahuja, a seasoned Indian American executive who has been at the forefront of SPE as the Chairman of Global Television Studios and President and COO, is set to succeed Vinciquerra.

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Despite this change, Vinciquerra will maintain a presence at SPE as non-executive Chairman until the end of December 2025, serving in an advisory capacity. Ahuja's promotion has been anticipated for the past two and a half years, signaling a well-planned transition within the company.

Vinciquerra praised Ahuja, stating, “He has very good EQ and IQ. He’s much smarter than I am and much better with people than I am,” underscoring Ahuja's qualifications as his successor. Vinciquerra expressed his gratitude to Kazuo Hirai, Kenichiro Yoshida, and Hiroki Totoki for their trust and support throughout his tenure, conveying confidence in Ahuja’s leadership to propel SPE into the future.

Ahuja has been a protégé of Vinciquerra since 2007 when Vinciquerra hired him during their time at Fox Networks Group. Their professional relationship continued when Ahuja joined Sony Pictures, where he has been integral to the company's success, including overseeing productions that have yielded significant franchises such as *The Boys*, *Cobra Kai*, and *Outlander*.

Ravi Ahuja's extensive background in the entertainment industry includes his previous role as president of business operations and CFO of Walt Disney Television from 2019 to 2021. He also joined the board of Roku Investors in February 2013. Ahuja's career began in 1997 at McKinsey and evolved through various roles at Virgin Entertainment Group, where he served as CFO, and later at Fox Networks Group, culminating in the CFO position before joining Sony Pictures.

Ahuja holds a bachelor's degree in Finance and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. He is recognized as a trailblazer among Indian Americans and recently spoke at Wharton's graduation ceremony in San Francisco on May 6, 2023.

As Ahuja prepares to take the helm at SPE, he will report directly to Sony Group Corporation chairman and CEO Kenichiro Yoshida, along with president, COO, and CFO Hiroki Totoki. SPE encompasses a wide range of film and TV studios, including Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, and Crunchyroll, which focuses on anime content.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Ahuja stated, “It is my privilege and honor to take the helm at SPE. This is a special place — an iconic studio with an extraordinary 100-year history of storytelling. Thanks to Tony’s remarkable leadership, we have leading businesses with clear strategies and are set up for even greater success in the years to come. I am energized by the opportunities ahead and am lucky to work alongside thousands of talented colleagues around the world at SPE and at our Sony sister companies. I am grateful for Tony’s mentorship, guidance, and friendship through the decades, and I thank Yoshida-san and Totoki-san for entrusting me with this important role.”

As Ahuja steps into his new position, he carries the weight of high expectations and the legacy of successful leadership, poised to guide Sony Pictures into a new era of creativity and innovation.

Oct. 1, 2024 12:57 p.m. 505

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