Variety Vanguard Award to Be Presented to Sony Pictures Entertainment Chief Tony Vinciquerra at Mipcom

Tony Vinciquerra, chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, is set to be honored with the Variety Vanguard Award at the Mipcom global content market in Cannes this October.

This accolade celebrates television industry trailblazers who have made contributions to the entertainment world. Vinciquerra will receive the award during a keynote conversation on October 21 at the Palais des Festivals, where Variety Co-Editor in Chief Cynthia Littleton will moderate.

The Vanguard Award ceremony will conclude an afternoon of C-Suite Conversations, a new initiative by Variety and Mipcom aimed at addressing the evolving landscape of content in an era of disruption. “Tony Vinciquerra is a highly esteemed leader in our industry,” said Michelle Sobrino-Stearns, CEO and Group Publisher of Variety.

“His steady leadership at Sony Pictures Entertainment during a period of transformation has been instrumental in the studio’s success despite a challenging environment. We are proud to present him with the Variety Vanguard Award.”

Under Vinciquerra’s leadership, Sony Pictures Entertainment has achieved five consecutive years of rising profits. Since taking charge in 2017, he has overseen major restructuring and strategic realignment within the studio’s film and TV divisions. Additionally, Sony has expanded its portfolio with acquisitions like Crunchyroll and U.K. production companies Bad Wolf and Eleventh Hour Films.

“Tony Vinciquerra stands out as one of the most impactful TV executives of our time,” commented Lucy Smith, director of Mipcom Cannes and Mip London. “His strategic choice to stay independent from the streaming boom has positioned Sony as the world’s largest independent studio, enabling it to invest in a diverse range of IP, franchises, and libraries.

His innovative vision offers valuable insights for global TV executives. We are excited to have him on the Mipcom Cannes stage.” Before his tenure at Sony, Vinciquerra served as a senior advisor at TPG, focusing on technology, media, and telecom sectors.

He also spent a decade at 20th Century Fox as chairman of Fox Networks Group, managing business operations and investments in sports and entertainment. His earlier career includes roles as executive VP and COO at Hearst-Argyle Television, and extensive experience as a TV station manager with Westinghouse and CBS in Boston and Philadelphia, as well as executive VP of CBS Television Stations.