Ravi Ahuja named Sony Pictures Entertainment President & COO

Indian American executive Ravi Ahuja has been named President and Chief Operating Officer of Sony Pictures Entertainment, effective April 1, just three years after arriving at the company

Currently Chairman, Global Television Studios and Corporate Development, Ahuja will keep his role and title at Sony Pictures Television and continue to report to SPE Chairman and CEO Tony Vinciquerra.

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“Since joining SPE in 2021 after holding leadership positions at Disney (President, Business Operations and CFO for Walt Disney TV) and Fox (CFO of Fox Networks Group), Ravi has consistently brought to bear his vast experience, knowledge, and expertise to help guide our operations and overall corporate direction,” Vinciquerra wrote in an email announcing the move.

“From reorienting our television businesses to better align with the realities of today’s TV landscape, to leveraging and expanding our popular franchises and game show IP, to seeking out new areas of growth through M&A, Ravi’s strategic insight and ability to drive execution have been instrumental in enhancing our businesses and preparing SPE for an even stronger future,” he wrote.

“In this expanded role as COO, Ravi will be able to apply his talents and results-driven approach across the breadth of SPE’s businesses,” Vinciquerra wrote.

Ahuja will be moving to Poitier to work more closely with Vinciquerra “and our entire leadership team as we chart our path forward through a rapidly changing and increasingly complex entertainment industry.”

Sony Pictures Television under Ahuja’s leadership has posted strong growth across its divisions, expanding the studios’ global production capabilities and more than doubling the number of shows produced by the studio.

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SPT now makes hundreds of shows across scripted, unscripted, kids programs and game shows around the world. Ahuja has shaped SPT’s content strategy, focusing on its strengths as an independent studio while navigating the realities of today’s TV business.

Among the big franchises that have flourished during his reign are The Boys, Outlander and Cobra Kai. Ahuja also bolstered collaboration with PlayStation Productions, leveraging the company’s IP including The Last of Us, which debuted as the second most-watched HBO series premiere in the last 13 years, and Twisted Metal, a hit comedy for Peacock. SPT has two new projects underway: God of War and Horizon Zero Dawn.

SPT earned 53 Primetime Emmy nominations last year including three Outstanding Drama Series nominees (The Last of Us, Better Call Saul, The Crown), while Jeopardy! won the Emmy for Outstanding Game Show for a fourth year in a row. Also, last year, The Night Agent was the No, 1 original on Netflix around the world.

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As part of SPT’s growth, Ahuja established a dedicated game show production group boosted by such franchises as Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!, which both scored landmark renewal deals from ABC’s Owned and Operated stations this past year.

On the M&A side, Ahuja’s strategic growth moves included the acquisition of Industrial Media (now SPT – Nonfiction), home to popular unscripted franchises including American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance and 90 Day Fiancé.

There was also the absorption of Pixomondo, the Oscar- and Emmy-winning virtual production, visualization and VFX company, in addition to the acquisition of Bad Wolf, one of the premier drama producers in the UK.

Similar to Vinciquerra, Ahuja is a Fox Networks vet; the duo worked together there. Ahuja joined Fox in 2007 after a 12-year run after serving as CFO of Virgin Entertainment Group.

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Before stepping down from Disney in late 2020, Ahuja played a central role in merging Disney/ABC Television and Fox Networks following Disney’s acquisition of Fox in 2019.

Following the merger, he served as both President, Business Operations and CFO of Walt Disney Television, which included the ABC Network, ABC News, ABC Owned Stations, Disney Channel, Disney Television Studios, Freeform, FX, Hulu Originals and National Geographic.

Prior to his time at Disney, he served as CFO of the Fox Networks Group (FNG), where he oversaw finance, strategy and business development for all of its business units: Twentieth Century Fox Television, Fox Broadcasting, Fox Cable Networks, Fox Sports, National Geographic and FNG Europe and Africa, Latin America and Asia.

At Fox, Ahuja formulated and executed on the company’s growth initiatives, including those in streaming and new technology. He helped to guide the company’s Hulu joint venture for over a decade and spearheaded investments in Roku, Draft Kings and many others.

Additionally, Ahuja led the acquisitions of National Geographic Partners, Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network and Sports Time Ohio.

As CFO of the Fox Networks Group, Ahuja oversaw finance, strategy and business development for all its business units: Twentieth Century Fox Television, Fox Broadcasting, Fox Cable Networks, Fox Sports, National Geographic and Fox Networks Europe and Africa, Latin America and Asia