Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment Forms Digital Networks Division
New Organizational Structure to Grow Network Units And Support Future Initiatives
PRNewswire
CULVER CITY, Calif.
02/11/2002
Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment (SPDE) today announced the alignment of SoapCity, Screenblast and its wireless and platform service units to form the Digital Networks Division to be headed by senior vice president Patrick Kennedy, it was announced today by Yair Landau, president of Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment. The Digital Networks division resides in the SPDE organization alongside Sony Pictures Imageworks, Sony Online Entertainment, and the company's recently announced online promotion unit, Sony Pictures Integrated Network.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020211/LAM117 )
Concurrent with this announcement, veteran SPDE executive Tim Chambers has been promoted to senior vice president, advanced platforms, where he leads a team focused on emerging technologies and platforms. Brian Lakamp joins the organization as senior vice president, broadband services and will be responsible for leading the division's digital distribution services to advance SPDE's content network. Screenblast and SoapCity remain under the leadership of senior vice president and general manager Andrew Schneider and vice president and general manager Mary Coller, respectively.
"Since our inception in online entertainment, we've launched Screenblast, drove the Movielink partnership, grown SoapCity to be a dominant player and relaunched Sonypictures.com," said Yair Landau. "Now that our businesses are established and maturing, we are reorganizing to support their continuing development and create broader distribution opportunities."
"As we define the next generation of entertainment at Sony Pictures Digital, we are also refining our business to meet the challenge," said Kennedy. "We have a core team of talented individuals, many of whom have been responsible for Sony Pictures' consistently innovative online efforts, who bring creative originality, technical expertise and strategic vision to our projects."
Kennedy joined SPDE as senior vice president in 2000. Prior to SPDE, he worked in Sony Pictures Entertainment's corporate development group starting as a manager in 1996. He then moved to Tokyo to represent SPE on negotiations and planning for the launch of the satellite television service, JskyB, and remained in Japan to establish Sony Pictures Television Japan which launched two satellite channels for SPE: AXN (Japan) and Animax. In 1998, Kennedy returned from Tokyo to SPE as vice president, corporate development. He was among a team of executives who helped reorganize SPE's digital media assets into what is now known as SPDE. Kennedy holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Milwaukee School of Engineering and a master's degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University.
At Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment, Chambers leads a team of forward-thinking specialists and engineers who focus on creating and studying key technologies and building out new technology prototypes, working closely with various teams from Sony's Japanese technology groups. Before his appointment with SPDE, Chambers established and headed the Internet production infrastructure of Columbia TriStar Interactive. Chambers' experience has made him a leader in entertainment technology and he has been a respected addition to a number of key groups within Sony including the Sony Global Content and Technology Committee and the chair of the Device Platform Group of Sony's US E-platforms efforts. Prior to his tenure with Sony, Chambers worked in interactive gaming with such digital entertainment companies as Activision, Disney Software and And Interactive. He holds a B.A. in Communication Arts from Southern Methodist University.
Prior to joining SPDE, Lakamp served as one of four Practice Directors at Viant Corporation where he oversaw the operations of Viant's Media and Entertainment Practice. Also during his tenure at Viant, Lakamp was Senior Client Partner where he worked with SPDE on its digital distribution initiatives. As a Senior Client Partner, his responsibilities included client relationship expansion and the buildout of several key, groundbreaking services. Lakamp also oversaw marketing efforts, press relations and operations for the practice. He holds a B.S. in Applied Mathematics and Managerial Science with a Specialization in Computing and a B.A. in Business Economics from UCLA.
About Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment
Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment (SPDE), an operating unit of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), oversees the activities of SPE's digital production and online assets including Sony Pictures Imageworks, Sony Online Entertainment, SoapCity, Screenblast and SPIN, which represents the studio's online promotional presence. SPDE focuses on three areas: 1) producing and developing visual effects and computer-generated imaging (CGI), digital character animation, and original content for motion picture, television, online and PlayStation audiences; 2) developing new forms of online content, games and interactive programming; and 3) leading SPE's efforts to provide online, open-access video-on-demand, interactive television and wireless entertainment.
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SOURCE: Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment
Contact: Don Levy, +1-310-482-4808, dlevy@sonypictures.com, or Kristen
Tarnol, +1-310-482-4828, ktarnol@sonypictures.com, both of Sony Pictures
Digital Entertainment
Website: http://www.spe.sony.com/