Cheryl Lynch Leaves Sony Pictures Television as International Business Focus Moves from L.A. to London
Sony Pictures Television Veteran Cheryl Lynch to Depart Amid International Restructuring
Cheryl Lynch, a longstanding executive at Sony Pictures Television (SPT), is set to exit the company this summer as the international production group relocates its business affairs from Los Angeles to London.
This announcement follows a recent initiative by Ravi Ahuja, the boss of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), to implement a series of layoffs affecting a few hundred employees from the company’s global workforce of 12,000.
The transition of SPT’s international business affairs to the UK has prompted Lynch’s departure. After two decades with the company, Lynch will no longer serve as the director for various SPT labels, including Left Bank, known for producing The Crown. Details regarding succession plans will be announced in due course.
Lynch has held several roles at SPT, rising to the position of Executive Vice President and Head of Business Affairs & Scripted Formats. In this capacity, she contributed to the strategy development for 15 Sony labels, including Left Bank, Bad Wolf, and the producer of Sex Education, Eleven. Her responsibilities included negotiating deals with local broadcasters for Sony’s programming and overseeing the global scripted formats business.
Previously, Lynch worked with Fox and Showtime and was a key member of SPT’s international senior management team under Wayne Garvie. Recently, Garvie appointed Charlotte Moore, formerly of the BBC, to lead Left Bank while also taking on a new EVP role focused on Creative Direction for International Production.
Ahuja’s strategic shift is particularly evident in his focus on growth areas such as Crunchyroll and PlayStation adaptations, moving away from ventures like the House of the Dragon visual effects firm, Pixomondo, which has closed its operations. Although the closure has impacted revenue streams, recent reports indicate that SPE’s operating income, excluding the effects of Pixomondo, increased by 11% to $858 million, buoyed by the success of Crunchyroll.
