Sony Pictures Entertainment Is Expected to Name Former Disney Executive as New Chief

Former Walt Disney Co. executive Michael Lynton is expected to be named chief executive of Sony Pictures Entertainment, sources familiar with the situation say.

At the same time, Amy Pascal, who heads Columbia Pictures, will be promoted to chairwoman of Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, the sources say. Lynton and Pascal would run the studio in partnership, both reporting to New York-based Sony Corp. of America Chairman and CEO Howard Stringer.

The appointments would continue a management shuffle at the Culver City studio, which saw Chairman and CEO John Calley retire in October.

Lynton, who has been running Time Warner Inc.’s AOL international unit since 1999, will move to Los Angeles from New York but isn’t expected to inherit all of Calley’s duties. Sources say Lynton is expected to focus on the financial, digital and television operations; Pascal would remain in charge of the creative side of the studio.

As reported, Sony has been looking for an executive with business acumen. The studio has had much box-office success in recent years but spent heavily to achieve it. It now is under a mandate from its Tokyo-based parent, Sony Corp., to slash costs and jobs.

Lynton did not return calls Tuesday night. Pascal, who was in New York to meet Lynton, also did not return a call. Sony officials declined to comment.

The move to Sony would mark Lynton’s return to Hollywood. From 1994 to 1996, he ran Disney’s now-defunct Hollywood Pictures. A former publishing executive, he had no luck turning around the troubled movie division. After leaving Disney, he returned to publishing as head of Pearson’s Penguin Group.