Michael Lynton
Born
Michael Mark Lynton

(1960-01-01) January 1, 1960 (age 64)
London, United Kingdom
NationalityAmerican, British, German[1]
Alma materHarvard College
Harvard Business School
Occupation(s)Chairman of Snap Inc. (2017–)
Chairman of WMG (2019–)
SpouseJamie Alter Lynton
Children3

Michael Mark Lynton (born January 1, 1960) is a businessman and current chairman of Snap Inc. He previously served as chairman and chief executive of Sony Pictures Entertainment.[2] In 2017, Lynton stepped down as CEO of Sony Entertainment to become Chairman of Snap, makers of the Snapchat mobile app.[3] On February 12, 2019, he was named as chairman of Warner Music Group.[4]

Early life and education

Lynton was born to a Jewish family[5] in London on January 1, 1960. His parents, Marion (Sonnenberg) and Mark Lynton, were executives at Hunter Douglas in the Netherlands.[6][7] His father, born Max-Otto Ludwig Loewenstein, was born in 1920 in Stuttgart, Germany, and moved to Berlin two years later when his father was named head of a major German car manufacturing company. He later enlisted in the British military, where he served for seven years and worked for the British Intelligence, interrogating German officers.[8] The family later moved to the United States and lived in Scarsdale, New York, for several years before moving to the Netherlands in 1969.[9][10]

Lynton attended the International School of The Hague and transferred to Phillips Exeter Academy for his senior year, graduating in 1978.[11][12] He received his BA in history and literature from Harvard College in 1982.[10][13] After working in finance at Credit Suisse First Boston from 1982 to 1985, he enrolled in Harvard Business School with his sister Lili in 1985 and earned an MBA in 1987.[12][14]

Career

In 1987, Lynton joined The Walt Disney Company, where he started Disney Publishing. He subsequently served as president of Disney's Hollywood Pictures from 1992 to 1996. From 1996 to 2000, Lynton was chairman and chief executive officer of Pearson plc's Penguin Group, extending the Penguin brand to music and the Internet.[15] In 2000, he joined Time Warner as CEO of AOL Europe, president of AOL International, and president of Time Warner International.[16]

Sony

In 2004, Lynton became chairman and chief executive officer of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE). He led SPE's global operations, including motion pictures, television and digital content production and distribution, as well as home entertainment acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities, and the development of new entertainment products, services and technologies.[17]

In April 2012, Sony Corporation announced that Lynton would additionally hold the position of chief executive of Sony Entertainment Inc., overseeing all of Sony's global entertainment businesses, including Sony Music Entertainment, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, and Sony Pictures Entertainment.[18]

Under the leadership of Lynton and Sony Pictures co-chair Amy Pascal, SPE's Motion Pictures Group has been recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, including Best Picture nominations for American Hustle, Captain Phillips, The Social Network, Moneyball and Zero Dark Thirty.[19][20][21] Lynton and Pascal have overseen blockbuster movie franchises such as The Amazing Spider-Man, Grown Ups, The Smurfs, and James Bond.[22][23][24][25] Sony Pictures is one of two movie studios to generate more than $1 billion in annual domestic box office sales for more than a decade.[26] In 2012, the studio led the industry in market share and broke box office records with $4.4 billion in revenue worldwide.[27]

Lynton also oversaw Sony Pictures Television (SPT), which produces and distributes television programming for multiple platforms in the U.S. and around the world.[28] SPT's popular and award-winning programs in the U.S. include scripted series such as Breaking Bad, Justified, and The Blacklist, reality series like Shark Tank, The Sing-Off and Re-Modeled, as well as top-ranked game shows and daytime dramas including Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy!, The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives. Launched in collaboration with Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions, SPT's The Dr. Oz Show is one of the most popular syndicated programs in America. The show's format has already been exported to 19 countries including Russia, Saudi Arabia, Armenia, Colombia, Chile, Brazil and China.[29] The studio's television channel network reaches approximately 800 million households globally through its 126 channel feeds in more than 150 countries. SPT also operates Crackle.[30]

Lynton headed Sony's global music businesses, including Sony Music Entertainment, the second largest global recorded music company, and Sony/ATV Music Publishing, the largest music publishing company in the world.[31][32][33] Sony Music comprises 21 record labels, including Columbia Records, RCA and Epic Records, that collectively feature a roster of approximately 1,500 active artists[34] including Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Paul Simon and Michael Jackson.[35]

Lynton and Pascal led the development of two Green Building Council Leadership in Engineering and Design (LEED) certified buildings on the studio's Culver City lot.[36]

After Sony

In 2018, Lynton and his sister Lili started the publisher Lezen and acquired Arcadia Publishing.[37]

Activities

Lynton is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations[38] and the UK government's Film Policy Review group.[39] He also serves on the board of trustees of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art,[40] the Natural Resources Defense Council[41] and the American Film Institute,[42] as well as the boards of the USC School of Cinematic Arts,[43] the Rand Corporation,[44] IEX Group,[45] and Schrödinger, Inc.[46]

In May 2012, the Harvard Alumni Association elected Lynton to the Harvard Board of Overseers.[47] He joined the board of social media start-up Snapchat in June 2013.[48]

Personal life

Lynton is married to Jamie Alter Lynton, whose mother was Chicago politician Joanne H. Alter and her brother is journalist Jonathan Alter.[49]

References

  1. ^ "Michael Lynton". The Huffington Post. 26 May 2009.
  2. ^ "Sony Corporation Executive Appointments". Sony Corporation. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  3. ^ "Sony Entertainment CEO exiting for a top role at Snap". Reuters. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  4. ^ Billboard Staff. "Former Sony Executive Michael Lynton Joins WMG Board as Chairman". Billboard. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  5. ^ Brook, Vincent (15 December 2016). From Shtetl to Stardom: Jews and Hollywood: Chapter 1: Still an Empire of Their Own: How Jews Remain Atop a Reinvented Hollywood. Purdue University Press. p. 15. ISBN 9781557537638.
  6. ^ "Jamie Alter, Michael Lynton". Chicago Tribune. 3 July 1993. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  7. ^ Publications, Europa (2003). The International Who's Who 2004. Psychology Press. ISBN 9781857432176.
  8. ^ "J. Anthony Lukas Prize Project". Harvard University. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  9. ^ Brad A. Greenberg (4 October 2007). "From Holland to Hollywood:Sony CEO Michael Lynton on his Jewish journey". The Jewish Journal.
  10. ^ a b Arango, Tim (24 October 2009). "Sony's Version of Tracy and Hepburn". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  11. ^ Boynton, Robert S. (30 March 1998). "The Hollywood Way: A profile of Michael Lynton". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  12. ^ a b Bertet, Elsa (6 September 2007). "Michael Lynton timeline". Variety.
  13. ^ Flynn, Kerry M. (23 May 2012). "Michael M. Lynton". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  14. ^ "Sony Pictures Chairman Michael Lynton to Head Federal Broadcasting Board of Governors". Reuters. 13 February 2013.
  15. ^ Robert S. Boynton (30 March 1998). "The Hollywood Way". The New Yorker.
  16. ^ "AOL Taps Lynton". Los Angeles Times. 6 January 2000.
  17. ^ "Michael Lynton". Sony Pictures Entertainment. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  18. ^ "Michael Lynton Re-Ups As CEO Of Sony Entertainment". Deadline Hollywood. 9 April 2013.
  19. ^ Sehgal, Ujala (26 February 2011). "OSCARS 2011: Here Are The Best Picture Nominees!". Business Insider.
  20. ^ "Oscar nominations 2012: Is 'Moneyball' the best sports movie ever?". Los Angeles Times. 24 January 2012.
  21. ^ "Oscars winners and nominees 2013: Complete list". Los Angeles Times. 25 February 2013.
  22. ^ "SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT TO EXPAND THE SPIDER-MAN UNIVERSE ON SCREEN WITH ALL-STAR WRITING TEAM" (PDF). Sony Pictures Entertainment. 12 December 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 July 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  23. ^ Zeitchik, Steven (15 July 2013). "'Grown Ups 2:' How did Adam Sandler buck his recent trend?". Los Angeles Times.
  24. ^ Graser, Marc (13 June 2013). "Holy Smurf! Sony Locks Down $150 million in Promo Support for 'The Smurfs 2'". Variety.
  25. ^ McClintock, Pamela (18 November 2011). "Box Office Milestone: 'Skyfall' Reaches Franchise-Best $669.2 Million". The Hollywood Reporter.
  26. ^ Finke, Nikki (29 July 2012). "Sony Pictures Hits $1B Domestic Grosses". Deadline Hollywood.
  27. ^ McClintock, Pamela (2 January 2013). "Sony Pictures No. 1 in 2012 Worldwide Box Office Market Share". The Hollywood Reporter.
  28. ^ Ben Fritz and Alex Pham (22 March 2012). "Sony is set to give its Hollywood studio chief a bigger role". Los Angeles Times.
  29. ^ Carter, Bill (22 September 2010). "Sony Hopes for a Blockbuster as 'Dr. Oz' Format Goes to China". The New York Times.
  30. ^ "WORLDWIDE NETWORKS". Sony Pictures Television. Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  31. ^ Kafka, Peter (9 April 2013). "Sony Re-Ups Movie, Music Boss Michael Lynton". All Things Digital.
  32. ^ Pham, Alex (29 June 2012). "Sony completes EMI acquisition, creating largest music publisher". Los Angeles Times.
  33. ^ Christman, Ed (24 June 2011). "Can Doug Morris Lead Sony Past Universal Music Group to Be the No. 1 Label?". Billboard.
  34. ^ "Labels". Sony Music Entertainment. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  35. ^ "Featured Artists". Sony Music Entertainment. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  36. ^ "A Greener World". Sony Pictures Entertainment. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  37. ^ Investor group acquires Arcadia Publishing
  38. ^ "Membership Roster - Council on Foreign Relations". Cfr.org. Archived from the original on 18 April 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  39. ^ Kemp, Stuart (17 November 2011). "U.K. Film Industry Gets Commercial Clarion Call From Prime Minister David Cameron". The Hollywood Reporter.
  40. ^ "Overview". LACMA. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  41. ^ "Board of Trustees". NRDC. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  42. ^ "AFI Board of Trustees". NRDC. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  43. ^ "Board of Councilors". NRDC. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  44. ^ "Board of Trustees". RAND. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  45. ^ IEX Group Board, IEX, retrieved 26 October 2017
  46. ^ "Schrödinger Board of Directors". Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  47. ^ "Board of Overseers election results". 24 May 2012.
  48. ^ McBride, Sarah (24 June 2013). "Snapchat lands $60 million and new board member Michael Lynton". Reuters.
  49. ^ Finke, Nikki (20 November 2008). "Who Are Obama's Real Hollywood Pals?". Deadline.com. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
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