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Sony Pictures undergoes management revamp; Alphabet's Access gets new CEO

S&P Global Market Intelligence presents a weekly rundown of executive changes in the U.S. media and communications industries.

TOP STORIES

* Sony Corp. unit Sony Pictures Entertainment let go of three president-level executives as it seeks to revamp the company's top-heavy management structure, The Hollywood Reporter said, citing a companywide memo distributed Feb. 6. The executives leaving the company are Sony Pictures Television Inc. President for Worldwide Networks Andy Kaplan, Sony Pictures Television President and Chief Marketing Officer Sheraton Kalouria and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Inc. President Man Jit Singh. As a result, Keith Le Goy, currently Sony Pictures Television's president of distribution, will expand his role to include home entertainment. Worldwide Networks business will now be reporting directly to Mike Hopkins, the company's Sony Pictures Television chairman. As for those under the Sony Pictures Television marketing group, each team will now report directly the the business units that they support. "Our decision to rethink the way we operate these units was driven by our goals to streamline [Sony Pictures Entertainment]'s business operations, making them nimbler and better aligned with a rapidly-evolving industry," Sony Pictures Entertainment Chairman and CEO Tony Vinciquerra said in the memo.

* Alphabet Inc. tapped Dinesh Jain to serve as CEO of its Access unit, which includes the Google Fiber and Webpass Inc. businesses. In this role, Jain will lead the Access team in its California headquarters as well as company operations across 20 U.S. markets, Google Fiber said in a blog post. Access' previous CEO, Gregory McCray, stepped down in July 2017 after five months in the job.

Media industry moves

* Rhapsody International Inc., doing business as Napster, tapped William Patrizio to lead the company as president and CEO on a permanent basis, the company said in a Form 8-K filed Feb. 7. Patrizio, who has held the position of interim CEO since May 2017, relinquished his role as president of consumer media at RealNetworks Inc. The transition will be effective March 1. RealNetworks, meanwhile, named Max Pellegrini as president of the company, effective March 1. Pellegrini currently serves as president of mobile services.

* Robert Mazzeo joined Alliance MMA Inc. as the company's acting CEO, effective immediately. Former Alliance MMA CEO Paul Danner III informed the company that he intends to pursue other career opportunities at the expiration of his employment agreement May 1. Until that time, Alliance MMA expects Danner to serve as a senior adviser to the management and other board members, the company said Feb. 7. Mazzeo has been a partner in the law firm of Mazzeo Song PC since 2005.

* Viacom Inc. expanded the role of Sarah Levy, COO of its global entertainment group, to include oversight of operations and strategy for Nickelodeon (US) and BET (US), The Wall Street Journal reported Feb. 6, citing sources. Viacom on Feb. 6 also cut about 100 jobs as part of its efforts to save $100 million in costs, according to the report. Levy will reportedly share the oversight with Nickelodeon President Cyma Zarghami, who is nearing the end of her contract with the company. According to the Journal, people close to Zarghami and Viacom are unsure whether she will ultimately stay on with Viacom.

* Tronc Inc. launched a national digital growth strategy through its Tribune Interactive division, which will operate the digital functions of the company, as well as pursue strategic growth investments and acquisitions, the company said Feb. 7. Tribune Interactive will house the company's digital assets and functions, the studios unit, national digital sales and digital corporate and business development. The unit will also include syndication unit TCA and the recently acquired The Daily Meal. Newly reinstated executive Ross Levinsohn will lead Tribune Interactive as CEO. Mickie Rosen will serve as president and Lewis D'Vorkin as chief content officer. Ben Gerst will serve as chief technology officer, Mark Campbell will oversee digital subscriptions and marketing and Rob Angel will be in charge of corporate and business development.

* Omnicom Group Inc. named Wendy Clark president and CEO of advertising and marketing network DDB Worldwide. Clark succeeded Chuck Brymer, who will assume the title of chairman, the company said Feb. 7. The moves are effective immediately. Clark previously headed DDB North America as CEO.

Communications industry moves

* WideOpenWest Inc. named Nancy McGee chief marketing and sales officer of the company, effective Feb. 12. McGee was previously the executive vice president of marketing for Starz Entertainment LLC, the company said Feb. 7.

* U.S. technology and networking multinational Cisco Systems Inc. closed the acquisition of cloud calling and contact center services provider BroadSoft Inc. for a purchase price of about $1.9 billion net of cash and investment, Cisco said Feb. 2. Former BroadSoft CEO Michael Tessler will now be part of Cisco's Unified Communications Technology Group led by Vice President and General Manager Tom Puorro, under the Applications Group led by Rowan Trollope.

* CenturyLink Inc. will hire 150 employees for its new outbound sales center in Monroe, La., according to a Feb. 1 news release. The new center will help the company serve small-business customers in the U.S. CenturyLink expects to begin training the new employees in March.