Sony TV Shakeup: Glenn Adilman, Scott Landsman, Karen Tatevosian & Jennifer Solari Among 7 Executives Exiting, Gemstone Folding – Update

Nellie Andreeva
·4 min read

EXCLUSIVE updated with more details and names: Sony Pictures Television’s longtime head of comedy, EVP Glenn Adilman, and his No. 2, SVP Scott Landsman, are among several senior executives — I heard seven — across different divisions at the TV studio that were let go Thursday, sources tell Deadline.

Sony Pictures TV Studios co-president Jason Clodfelter will oversee comedy in the interim, until replacements are found. Adilman has been at Sony for 19 years, while Landsman’s tenure has spanned more than a decade. The studio’s head of drama Lauren Stein is staying put.

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I hear leaders in Business Affairs, Research and Media Relations also were impacted, including two well respected veteran female executives — Karen Tatevosian, EVP and Head of BA, who has been at the studio for 19 years, and Jennifer Solari, who has served as SVP Media and Talent Relations for the past five years. I hear also gone is Wayne Goldstein, Sony’s longtime Head of Global Research.

I hear there is also a change in the leadership of SPT’s current programming division, which EVP Current Jeff Glaser will now co-head with Marie Jacobson, EVP of Gemstone Studios.

Gemstone, Sony Pictures TV’s boutique production unit behind such cost-efficient series as Fox’s Fantasy Island, will have its development folded into SPT’s existing drama slate, with members of Jacobson’s team laid off, I hear.

The moves come a couple of months after Katherine Pope joined the studio as new president and reflect her strategy for SPT. She sent an internal note earlier today explaining the changes, a copy of which was obtained by Deadline.

“I realize these changes will be an adjustment for many of you; change is never easy. But it is essential that we remain agile and flexible in order to maximize new opportunities as our industry continues to evolve,” Pope wrote. “There has been immense change in our business over the last few years, and I know this flexibility will serve us well in the future.”

Current and upcoming series developed by Adilman and Landsman include hits Cobra Kai, The Goldbergs and Afterparty as well as Twisted Metal, Western, Platonic and Clean Slate.

There is currently a town hall at the studio, I hear. A rep for SPT declined comment.

Here is Pope’s memo:

Hello Team,

I wanted to make you aware of some important changes we are making at SPT.

Since arriving at the studio a few months ago, I have spent a lot of time meeting with our leadership teams to assess our strengths and priorities as we chart a path for growth in a rapidly evolving television landscape. I continue to be incredibly impressed by the talented and creative teams throughout SPT, and the outstanding content we produce across all platforms.

At the same time, it has become clear that we need to make some organizational changes to position ourselves for growth and better align our business with today’s content marketplace – specifically in our Business Affairs, Comedy Development, Current Programming, Research and Media Relations divisions. Additionally, we will be folding our Gemstone development into our existing drama slate.

Some of these moves involve leadership changes, and we have already spoken to the directly impacted individuals. I want to thank each of them for their years of service and important contributions to SPT.

I realize these changes will be an adjustment for many of you; change is never easy. But it is essential that we remain agile and flexible in order to maximize new opportunities as our industry continues to evolve. There has been immense change in our business over the last few years, and I know this flexibility will serve us well in the future.

I want to thank the entire SPT leadership team for their support and cooperation in this effort. I assure you these decisions were not taken lightly, but they are important as we continue to strengthen our business as the leading independent producer of premium scripted television.

I look forward to speaking with you all at the Town Hall later today. As always, my door is open for you to let me know what is working well, where you see opportunity for change, and to answer any questions or provide clarification that will help us continue to win as a team.

Katherine

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