Sony Hires Turner Movie Chief Dennis Miller

Sony Pictures Entertainment said Tuesday that it has hired Dennis Miller, one of Turner Broadcasting Systems’ most senior executives in Hollywood, as an executive vice president.

Sources said Miller, president of Turner Pictures, will in effect fill the post soon to be vacated by Sony executive Paul Schaeffer. As previously reported, Schaeffer will soon become the top corporate officer at a new venture being led by former Sony Pictures Chairman Peter Guber.

Miller is well regarded among Hollywood executives. Sony Pictures President Alan J. Levine said Miller’s duties, which will be defined over the next few months, will involve dealing with a broad range of corporate issues.

As president of Turner Pictures, Miller headed the company’s production and business affairs and programming for the TNT network, Turner feature animation and Turner Entertainment Co.

Miller, a member of the family that started the Miller’s Outpost chain of clothing stores, joined TNT as executive vice president in 1990. He previously was president of actress Shelley Duvall’s Think Entertainment, had his own television program-distribution company and worked as an entertainment lawyer.