Sony Pictures Entertainment has elevated Andrew Gumpert to president of worldwide business affairs and Operations for the studio’s Motion Picture Group.
The move will see the 10-year Sony veteran work across all divisions of the studios. Sony chief Tom Rothman made the announcement, to whom Gumpert will report. In his vastly expanded post, Gumpert will align deal-making philosophies across Sony’s various labels, from TriStar to Columbia Pictures to Screen Gems.
Gumpert previously served in a similar capacity for Columbia Pictures. By adding the studio’s other divisions to his portfolio, he will now oversee all of Sony Pictures’ deal making. Gumpert will work closely with Motion Picture Group president Doug Belgrad to set and implement the studio’s day-to-day business operations and business affairs strategies.
On the elevation, Rothman said: “Gump is an incredible executive and has compiled a terrific team. He is smart and dedicated and creative and honest. He has Doug’s and my full confidence, as does the outstanding team he supervises. We congratulate all of our fine colleagues on their promotions.”
In addition to his deal-making responsibilities, Gumpert will remain directly involved with the studio’s most high-level strategic planning, including overseeing – along with SPE CFO Stefan Litt – the studio’s relationships with its outside financing partners, including Lonestar Capital and Village Roadshow. Gumpert also will oversee the business affairs and strategic operations for Columbia Live Stage, the studio’s theatrical group, which is creatively overseen by Lia Vollack. That group is currently developing several projects, including the musical Groundhog Day, based on the 1993 Columbia Pictures film, with Tim Minchin/Matthew Warchus, Scott Rudin and Danny Rubin, who is writing the book for the show.
As part of the promotion, the senior business affairs executive for each motion picture group production division will now report to Gumpert, with each division having a dedicated business affairs team.
In other news, Sony Pictures Animation – Jeffrey Korchek, who most recently served at Mattel as VP licensing acquisitions, business affairs and content, has been hired as executive VP business affairs and strategy. Korchek will supervise Kym Wulfe, who is being promoted to senior VP business affairs. Ronni Coulter, who has overseen business affairs for the animation studio for more than nine years, will be retiring from the studio.