Mike Hopkins Exits Hulu, Joins Sony

Mike Hopkins, who has been CEO of Hulu since 2013, has been named chairman of Sony Pictures Television (SPT).

Hopkins has led Hulu through significant audience growth, as well as the successful launch of Hulu with Live TV. He is now leaving the company, and Randy Freer has been named CEO. Freer, who currently serves on the Hulu board, has been president and COO of Fox Networks Group since 2013. Freer will be based at Hulu’s headquarters in Los Angeles, and his appointment is effective Monday.

At Sony, Hopkins will be overseeing all TV production, distribution and marketing operations globally for the studio, as well as Sony Pictures Entertainment’s (SPE) media networks business. He will start in late November and report to Tony Vinciquerra, the chairman and CEO of SPE.

Hopkins’ appointment also represents a structural change in the current reporting lines of SPE’s TV businesses. Going forward, the heads of SPT’s domestic and international television production, distribution, advertiser sales and research, marketing and Sony Pictures Worldwide Networks will now report to Hopkins.

“I’ve known Mike for years and can think of no better person to lead our television businesses during a time of such extraordinary evolution and opportunity,” said Vinciquerra. “Mike is a proven and innovative leader who has played a key role in redefining today’s television landscape, both for consumers and for how content producers reach them. We are thrilled to have him at SPE to work alongside our deep bench of talent and lead our studio to even greater heights.”

“Tony has long been a colleague and mentor of mine, and I’m really excited to join him and the rest of the talented team at SPE,” said Hopkins. “There is a tremendous opportunity to build on SPT’s momentum globally and I look forward to working with the team to realize that potential. I want to thank Tony and Kaz for this incredible opportunity.”

The Hulu board said in a statement: “We want to thank Mike for his leadership in steering Hulu to its current era of growth and success. Randy has a unique knowledge of Hulu and expertise building consensus among its owners, and an excellent track record leading a complex organization at the nexus of the television business. There’s no better candidate to lead Hulu as it embarks on its next chapter.”

Freer said: “Hulu is at the center of transformation in entertainment. Hulu’s management team and employees have positioned Hulu to be a leader in defining the future of content creation, distribution and monetization—all while putting the viewer first. I’d like to thank Hulu’s board for this exciting opportunity.”

Hopkins added: “Leading Hulu for the past four years has been the single most meaningful experience of my career. It has been an enormous privilege to work with this vibrant, creative and fearless team to build Hulu into the success it is today. I want to thank Rupert, Bob, James, Lachlan and the entire Hulu board for giving me this opportunity, and I am especially grateful to the more than 2,000 Hulugans who make Hulu such an inspiring place to be.”