Vinciquerra will stay on in an advisory role for SPE as non-executive Chairman until the end of December 2025.
Despite Sony losing Paramount to Skydance, thats not the reason for Vinciquerras exit.
Vinciquerra brought Ahuja over to SPE three years ago with the intention that he would ultimately lead the company.
Tony Vinciquerra and Ravi AhujaSony
Vinciquerra praised Ahuja to Deadline today, saying, He has very good EQ and IQ.
Hes much smarter than I am.
And much better with people than I am.
Or as Sony brass proudly coin the conglom: a content arms dealer.
Consider the arms dealer business model, a tried and true for the future of Sony.
Theres a long tail there, Vinciquerra tells Deadline.
I think this strategy will be fine as long as there are competitors in the streaming service.
That anime label is bound to be one of Sonys largest businesses in the next two years.
The label is profitable in its 15M subs who pay as much as $9 apiece.
That deal replaced Sonys long-running pay-one cable TV window with Starz.
Vinciquerra tells Deadline, The most important decision was to get out of the linear TV connection business.
Streaming will eventually become profitable, the linear channel business will not improve.
Its on a negative path.
Divesting non-core businesses at Sony was also key during Vinciquerras run, i.e.
Profit was $1.9B.
The $582 billion-plus market cap congloms stock reached a 52-week high on Jan. 12.
Im filled with immense gratitude for this exceptional company and its profound legacy in Hollywood history.
Im consistently inspired by my brilliant and resolute colleagues.
Thank you for making these past seven and half years the most gratifying of my career.
Prior to SPE, Ahuja was President of Business Operations and CFO of Walt Disney Television.
It is my privilege and honor to take the helm at SPE, said Ahuja.
This is a special place an iconic studio with an extraordinary 100-year history of storytelling.
Even though Sony didnt scoop up Paramount, theyre not out of the M&A business.
They will have dealt with the cable networks.
Well be stratified, more genre based.
It will be a good business and the companies providing the entertainment will be on much stronger financial footing.
