Program furthers studio’s ongoing commitment to broaden internationally
Culver City, Calif., June 1, 2017 – In a first for the studio, Sony Pictures Entertainment’s consumer products division is establishing a Shanghai-based licensing office with Sabrina Gu leading direct deals in the territory as Director of Consumer Products, China. The program furthers Sony Pictures Entertainment’s (SPE) ongoing global reorientation, and commitment to bolster its presence in international territories.
Gu will continue to dual-report to Joseph Liao, Chief Marketing Officer Beijing, and Jamie Stevens, EVP Worldwide Consumer Products. Gu will expand SPE’s licensing opportunities in China and lead relationships with business partners in the territory.
"Now more than ever there is a world of opportunity in China for consumer products, which Gu will help to realize," said Jamie Stevens, EVP Worldwide Consumer Products. "From a box-office standpoint and an ancillary business perspective, China has become increasingly important to the growth and long-term vision of our intellectual property, and in managing a brand’s lifecycle. As Sony Pictures broadens the global appeal of its film and television properties in a substantial way, our new China-based licensing office will support that growth."
Gu has been in the licensing industry for nearly 15 years. She was at the forefront of the licensing business’ emergence in China when she started at Disney in 2004. In addition to her time at Disney (2004 - 2013), she was at Nike from 2002-2003, and Mattel Asia Pacific from 2014 - 2016.
ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. SPE includes the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group and its film labels Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Screen Gems, Sony Pictures Animation and Sony Pictures Classics, along with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions, and Sony Pictures Imageworks; Sony Pictures Television and Sony Pictures Studios.
For additional information on SPE, visit http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.