MUMBAI:  Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) has recruited  Jay Levine, former CEO of Kevin Hart's Hartbeat media company, to serve as executive vice president, chief strategy officer and business operations. Levine will report directly to SPE president and CEO, Ravi Ahuja, and will spearhead the company's strategic growth initiatives, including mergers and acquisitions.

Levine, who joined Hartbeat in early 2024, made a splash by producing the Emmy-nominated Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady for Netflix and "Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist" for Peacock. He also renegotiated key partnerships with industry giants like Netflix, NBCUniversal, and Sirius XM.

Prior to Hartbeat, Levine spent over a decade at Warner Bros. and WarnerMedia, where he held various senior leadership roles, including leading business operations and strategy for the WarnerMedia Studios and Networks group. His extensive background also includes stints at Disney and ESPN.

Ahuja lauded Levine's "deep expertise and great reputation," adding that his "collaborative spirit" would be invaluable for Sony's growth. Levine, in response, expressed his eagerness to "advance the company’s opportunities for expansion and growth given the evolving media landscape."

This move signals Sony Pictures' aggressive pursuit of growth and innovation in the increasingly competitive entertainment industry.