Press Releases

Culver City, CA – April 7, 2025 – Sony Pictures Entertainment announced today that Jay Levine has been named Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer and Business Operations, reporting directly to SPE President and CEO, Ravi Ahuja. In this role, Levine will be responsible for driving strategic growth initiatives while overseeing corporate development, investments, and mergers and acquisitions as well as providing direct oversight of a portfolio of SPE businesses and departments.

“I am thrilled to welcome Jay to Sony Pictures,” said Ahuja. “He brings not only deep expertise and a great reputation but also a collaborative spirit and strong relationships that will help drive our company’s growth. Jay’s insight and leadership will be invaluable as we continue to expand and innovate.”

“Sony Pictures’ dynamic portfolio of businesses and commitment to innovation presents a really unique and exciting opportunity,” said Levine. “I look forward to collaborating closely with Ravi and the entire leadership team to advance the company’s opportunities for expansion and growth given the evolving media landscape.”

Jay Levine was most recently the Chief Executive Officer at Hartbeat, the global media company founded by Kevin Hart. In this capacity, Levine oversaw all aspects of the private-equity backed multi-platform entertainment company’s activities, including the development, production, marketing, distribution, and other exploitation of its intellectual property and experiences. Under his leadership, Hartbeat produced critically acclaimed programming, including the Emmy-nominated "Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady" for Netflix and "Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist" for Peacock. At Hartbeat, Levine renewed and/or restructured key deals with significant partners, including Netflix, NBCU, Sirius XM, P&G and Draft Kings.

Prior to joining Hartbeat, Levine spent over a decade at Warner Bros. and then WarnerMedia in a variety of senior leadership roles, most recently leading business operations and strategy for the WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group, which at the time included WB Pictures Group, HBO and HBO Max Programming, WB Television Group, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, WB Animation, TBS, TNT, DC, Consumer Products, Global Brands & Experiences, and other traditional and digital content businesses.

Before joining Warner Bros. in 2009, Levine worked at The Walt Disney Company in its Corporate Strategy and Business Development Group and at ESPN.