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Rothman, 60, takes over for Amy Pascal, who suffered public
embarrassment after hackers leaked emails she had written to
other Hollywood executives.
Rothman, who brings expertise in both blockbusters and art-house
films, will probably push for more franchise development as he
did at Fox, where he launched the "X-Men," "Planet of the Apes"
and "Ice Age" movies.
Sources close to the company said Rothman would start his new
job in the next week or so.
Rothman was known for financial discipline when he co-led Fox
Filmed Entertainment from 2000-2012. In 2013, he became chairman
of TriStar Productions, a joint film and television venture with
Sony, and has pulled together a slate of films with directors
like Jodie Foster and stars George Clooney and Meryl Streep.
While the Sony studio came under pressure a few years ago from
activist investor Daniel Loeb because of its flops and high
costs, Hudson Square Research analyst Daniel Ernst said the
motion picture division was "doing rather well."
Ernst said the entertainment arm of Sony Corp would probably not
have changed the studio leadership if not for the cyberattack.
Rothman will report to Michael Lynton, who will continue to run
the Japanese corporation's global entertainment business. His
contract was extended for an undisclosed number of years, Sony
said in a statement.
Lynton had several choices inside Sony for Pascal's replacement,
including her deputy, Doug Belgrad, and Columbia Pictures
production president Michael De Luca.
"Tom’s creativity, strong talent relationships and track record
of enduring films and commercial success are unparalleled in
this industry and exactly what we are looking for to grow our
film business," Lynton said in the statement.
Pascal and Lynton announced this month that she was stepping
down as studio chief and moving to a production deal on the lot
with Sony's financial backing.
The executive shuffle comes after hackers launched a devastating
cyberattack on the studio in November, angered by the Sony
Pictures comedy "The Interview." The movie, championed by
Pascal, mocks North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
(Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)
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