Sony’s now terminated venture with Disney was launched two decades ago to minimize costs in the then nascent Southeast Asian market.
August 14, 2017
‘Sony Pictures Entertainment has terminated a longstanding theatrical-releasing joint venture with Disney in Southeast Asia, moving instead to launch distributors of its own in four countries.
Sony is launching new Sony Pictures Releasing units in Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. Those join a unit in the Philippines carved out earlier, in February, from the joint venture with Disney.
Announced by Brett Hogg, senior VP of international distribution at SPE, the moves see some personnel transferring from the joint venture and others in new positions. In Singapore, Robert Crockett will continue as managing director, overseeing Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. In Malaysia, Simon Foo becomes the AGM/Country Manager for Malaysia and will continue reporting to Crockett. Foo will take the day-to-day lead of operations in Malaysia in addition to his distribution and sales responsibilities.’