Jeff Blake Extends Employment Agreement With Sony Pictures Entertainment Thru 2012

Jeff Blake Extends Employment Agreement With Sony Pictures Entertainment Thru 2012

CULVER CITY, Calif., April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Jeff Blake has signed a long-term contract with Sony Pictures in which the respected industry veteran will continue to serve as chairman of worldwide marketing and distribution for the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group through 2012, it was announced today by Michael Lynton, chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Amy Pascal, co-chairman of SPE. In addition to his role overseeing the studio's worldwide marketing and distribution division, Blake continues to serve as vice chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

While Blake's current contract was not set to expire until the end of 2008, Lynton and Pascal began discussing the extension of Blake's employment agreement many months ago.

"Jeff Blake has been and will continue to be one of Sony Pictures' most valued senior executives and strategists," said Lynton. "Jeff has built an unparalleled global marketing and distribution network, which is recognized as the best in the business. His leadership on films as diverse as Spider-Man, The Da Vinci Code, The Pursuit of Happyness, Superbad, and Casino Royale has been critical to the success of Sony's biggest hits. When it comes to knowing how films will play in different corners of the world, Jeff's opinion and counsel matters -- not only to us but to the filmmakers and talent, who respect and rely on his guidance."

"Jeff is one of the smartest and most widely respected and admired executives in his field and the numbers speak loudly in telling the story of his impact on our studio," said Pascal. "Under Jeff's leadership since 2002, Sony Pictures has released 52 #1 films, which is by far the best record in town. We are also the only studio to have generated more than $8 billion in domestic marketshare during that time. That is a true testament to his marketing and distribution savvy and I believe those numbers demonstrate that he is unrivaled among his peers."

"I've always been lucky to work for and with great people and I'm especially proud to be a member of the team here at Sony," added Blake. "I am grateful to all of the talented marketing and distribution executives who work for Sony Pictures worldwide, and, who I believe, are the best in the business and do an extraordinary job. They make the difference and they truly do their best to pull out all the stops on every film."

Blake has served as vice chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) since October 2002.

He was named chairman of Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, Worldwide marketing and distribution in September, 2005. Blake was previously president of worldwide distribution for Columbia Pictures and has headed the studio's film distribution arm since 1992.

Blake directs and oversees the global marketing and distribution of all films from SPE'S motion picture production entities -- including Columbia Pictures, TriStar, and Screen Gems.

He has overseen the launch of such hit films as Spider-Man(TM), Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3, 21, Superbad, Casino Royale, The DaVinci Code, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Hitch, Vantage Point, Click, R.V., The Pursuit of Happyness, Pink Panther, 50 First Dates, Men in Black(TM)2, Fun With Dick and Jane, Ghost Rider, Mr. Deeds, Bad Boys II, Anger Management, Panic Room, Daddy Day Care, Something's Gotta Give, S.W.A.T., XXX, Black Hawk Down, Charlie's Angels(TM), Vantage Point, and The Grudge, among many others.

Blake is currently overseeing launch campaigns for such upcoming projects as Hancock, the action-comedy starring Will Smith, Adam Sandler's You Don't Mess with the Zohan, Step Brothers, starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, Angels & Demons, starring Tom Hanks and based on the best-selling novel by Dan Brown, and Quantum of Solace, the highly anticipated 22nd James Bond adventure starring Daniel Craig.

Mr. Blake became President of Sony Pictures Releasing in August 1994. Prior to that, he was President of Domestic Distribution for Columbia Pictures, a title he had held since joining SPE.

Mr. Blake previously worked at Paramount Pictures, where he served as Executive Vice President and General Sales Manager of Domestic Distribution from 1987 to 1992. While there, he contributed to the release of such hit films as Ghost, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop 2, and The Hunt for Red October.

Mr. Blake's career began at Paramount in 1974. He subsequently moved to the Los Angeles offices of the Walt Disney Company's theatrical sales unit, Buena Vista Distribution, in 1980, as assistant to the general sales manager. He returned to Paramount as manager of the Western Division in 1981 and was promoted to Vice President of Theatrical Distribution in 1984.

Mr. Blake is a member of the California Bar Association, and a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. He serves as a Vice President of the Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation and was honored in 2007 as Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation Pioneer of the Year. He is also a member of the Los Angeles chapter of Variety Club Children's Charities and was honored with the 1995 Humanitarian Award from the Variety Club of Queens, New York. He holds a bachelors' degree in economics from Northwestern University and a law degree from Whittier College of Law.

He lives with his wife, Barbara, and son, Jeffrey in La Canada, Ca. In addition, they have three adult children (Christopher, Heather and James), all of whom live with their families in the Los Angeles area.

About Sony Pictures Entertainment

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in more than 100 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com/.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Steve Elzer
Senior Vice President, Media Relations
310-244-7142
steve_elzer@spe.sony.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment

CONTACT: Steve Elzer, Senior Vice President, Media Relations of Sony
Pictures Entertainment, +1-310-244-7142, steve_elzer@spe.sony.com

Web site: http://www.sonypictures.com/

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