Jim Kennedy to Join Sony Pictures Entertainment as Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications

Jim Kennedy to Join Sony Pictures Entertainment as Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications

CULVER CITY, Calif., Aug. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Jim Kennedy will join Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) as Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, it was announced today by Beth Berke, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of SPE.

At SPE, Kennedy will be responsible for developing and directing the company's communications strategy, overseeing media relations and issues management, and serving as communications counselor to the executive team. He also will partner with SPE's government and community relations, internal communications and other departments in support of their missions, and will liaison with Sony Corporation of America and Sony Corporation on media issues. Kennedy will be located at SPE's headquarters in Culver City beginning in September. He will replace Susan Tick, who announced her resignation last May.

Kennedy has been a spokesman for President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Senator Joe Lieberman. He worked at the White House from January 1998 through the end of the Clinton presidency. Since 2002, he has been Counselor and Communications Director for former President Clinton and the William J. Clinton Foundation.

"At this time of enormous change, challenge and opportunity in the entertainment industry, Jim's creativity and experience in strategic communications will be a real asset to Sony Pictures," said Michael Lynton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SPE.

"Jim is known as one of the best and brightest in his field, and we look forward to having his fresh insights and over-the-horizon radar," said Amy Pascal, Vice Chairman of SPE and Chairman of the SPE Motion Pictures Group.

"Throughout his distinguished career, Jim has established himself as both an effective communicator and as someone who can navigate complicated issues with clarity and vision. We look forward to welcoming him to Sony Picture's senior corporate team," said Berke, to whom he will report.

"I am really excited about working at Sony Pictures and with all the extraordinary people who have made it a global leader in entertainment," said Kennedy.

Kennedy has dealt with media covering such events as former Presidents Clinton and Bush's work on tsunami relief; the opening of the Clinton Presidential Center and the publication of "My Life;" Senator Clinton's legislative efforts in the aftermath of the 9/ll attacks; the Starr investigation and the impeachment trial of President Clinton; and the 2000 election recount. He has appeared on a number of network newscasts, and authored op-ed articles for the New York Times, the Washington Post and USA Today.

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 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com/.

Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment

CONTACT: Steve Elzer, Senior Vice President, Media Relations of Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, +1-310-244-7142, steve_elzer@spe.sony.com

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

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