CALIFORNIA: John McMahon has been promoted to Senior Executive Vice President, Managing Director for Sony Pictures Television International's European operations. The announcement was made by President, Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) Michael Grindon.
Since taking charge of SPTI's European activities in 1998, McMahon has successfully expanded the core lines of business for the company across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He has built SPTI's licensing operation to continually achieve record-breaking sales levels each year and under his leadership, the studio has expanded its international networks opportunities throughout Europe, says an official release. 
McMahon has also been instrumental in the strong growth of SPTI's international productions business in Germany, Italy, France, Spain and the UK. In addition, McMahon is the liaison for coordinating all European television activities with other Sony sister divisions including Sony Electronics and Sony PlayStation.
Among McMahon's objectives in his new role are to develop and augment international synergies among the various Sony divisions. McMahon will be looking to drive greater opportunities to exploit Sony's family of companies throughout the international productions, programme distribution and the networks operations
The release informs that since his promotion to Executive VP in 1998, and his assumption of the Managing Director, Europe position in 1999, McMahon has guided SPTI's three lines of international business -- licensing, local production and international networks -- to tremendous growth and expansion.
Under McMahon's leadership, Sony's channel investment has expanded throughout Europe, including the wholly owned AXN brand in Spain, Israel and more recently, Portugal. Additionally, McMahon has overseen the launch of SET Asia and CineNova, the premium pay movie service, in Holland and Belgium. He is also credited with expanding the HBO platform in Eastern Europe to include programme services in Poland, Romania and Bulgaria.
A 12-year veteran of SPTI, McMahon joined SPE in 1990, serving as VP International Legal Affairs, Sony Pictures Entertainment before being named Senior Vice President, Sales Planning for the company's international television division.