Steve Kober Named Chief Financial Officer and Mark Khalil Becomes General Counsel at Sony Corporation of America

NEW YORK, June 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Corporation of America (SCA) today announced the promotions of Steven E. Kober and Mark E. Khalil to the positions of Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel, respectively, effective June 27. SCA is the U.S. subsidiary of Sony Corporation, which is headquartered in Japan.

Mr. Kober and Mr. Khalil have both been with Sony since 1989.  Together with their new appointments, they will be promoted to Executive Vice President.  They will both report to Nicole Seligman.  Ms. Seligman has been General Counsel of SCA and will become President of SCA on June 27.  She will remain as General Counsel of Sony Corporation.

Mr. Kober, who is currently Senior Vice President, Finance, succeeds Robert S. Wiesenthal, who is becoming President, International at Sony/ATV Music Publishing.  Mr. Khalil is currently Senior Vice President, Legal.

"With Steve's long years of wide-ranging experience, we can be sure SCA's business interests will be handled with a high degree of integrity and efficiency," said Ms. Seligman.  "He's a consummate professional and will do a terrific job as CFO."

"I have worked closely with Mark on many complex issues since I came to Sony over a decade ago, and I have great confidence in his ability to represent SCA as our top legal advisor," said Ms. Seligman.

"This is an important time of change for Sony and it's crucial that the businesses in the U.S. work closely with each other and with Sony's global operations," said Mr. Kober.  "I will do all I can to contribute to this effort and I look forward to working with Nicole Seligman as well as Michael Lynton as they transition into their new positions of leadership at SCA."   Mr. Lynton, currently Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, will additionally become CEO of SCA on June 27.

"I am honored to be appointed to lead SCA's legal affairs," said Mr. Khalil.  "I have learned a great deal as a member of Nicole Seligman's team over the last 11 years, and I look forward to continuing to work with her, Michael Lynton, Steve Kober and our colleagues across the company to support Sony's efforts in the U.S. and globally."

As CFO, Mr. Kober will work with Sony's U.S. businesses as well as the headquarters in Tokyo on such matters as financial reporting, acquisitions, divestitures and investments.  He will also be responsible for managing the work of such shared services as business development, tax, treasury and IT. 

As General Counsel, Mr. Khalil will oversee the SCA Legal Department, providing legal support to SCA and various corporate and business units.  He will also assume the role of Corporate Secretary of SCA.

Mr. Kober, who has a B.S. in accounting and finance and an M.B.A. in taxation from New York University's Stern School of Business, is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the New York State Society of CPAs.  After working at the accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Mr. Kober joined SCA as Assistant Controller in 1989.  He was promoted to Controller and later became Senior Vice President, Finance.

Mr. Khalil is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and received his law degree from Rutgers University School of Law.  After working with the Philadelphia law firm of Schnader, Harrison, Segal and Lewis, Mr. Khalil joined Sony Electronics (SEL) as Attorney in 1989 in Park Ridge, New Jersey, and was later Vice President, Group Counsel at SEL in San Jose, California, before moving to SCA in 2001.  Since 2009, Mr. Khalil has also served on the Board and, since 2011, as President, of the Sony USA Foundation, which oversees the philanthropic efforts of SCA.

Sony Corporation of America
Sony Corporation of America, based in New York, NY, is the U.S. subsidiary of Sony Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.  Sony is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, communications and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets.  Its motion picture, television, computer entertainment, music and online businesses make Sony one of the most comprehensive entertainment and technology companies in the world.

SOURCE Sony Corporation of America