Jeff Blake

Vice Chairman

Sony Pictures Entertainment

Chairman

Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, Worldwide Marketing and Distribution

Jeff Blake became Vice Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) in October, 2002.

In addition to his role as Vice Chairman, Mr. Blake serves as Chairman of Marketing and Distribution for the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group with global responsibility for the marketing and distribution for all films released through Columbia Pictures, Revolution Studios, TriStar Pictures and Screen Gems. Since January, 2002, twenty-eight of those films have been #1 hits at the box office, more than any other studio during a comparable time.

In recent years, Mr. Blake and his team have successfully launched such blockbusters as Spider-Man® and Spider-Man® 2, Hitch, The Grudge, 50 First Dates, Something's Gotta Give, Big Fish, S.W.A.T., Anger Management, Daddy Day Care, Men in Black II™, Mr. Deeds, XXX, Black Hawk Down, Panic Room, Charlie's Angels™, Maid in Manhattan, Bad Boys II, Stuart Little, Big Daddy, Men in Black, Air Force One, Jerry Maguire, My Best Friend's Wedding and As Good As It Gets, among dozens of others.

Mr. Blake oversees all releases world-wide through both Sony Pictures Releasing and Sony Pictures Releasing International. Under Blake, the company achieved an all-time industry record in 2002 for surpassing the biggest domestic theatrical gross in history (more than $1.57 billion).

In 2004, Sony Pictures finished #1 in domestic market-share and made company history by crossing the $1 billion mark in both North America and overseas ticket sale for the third year in a row.

In 2003, Mr. Blake oversaw the release of nine films which opened #1 at the box-office, an industry record for #1 openings in a single year.

Mr. Blake became President of Sony Pictures Releasing in August, 1994. He previously served as President of Domestic Distribution for Columbia Pictures, a title he had held since joining SPE in May, 1992.

Mr. Blake joined Columbia from Paramount Pictures, where he served as Executive Vice President and General Sales Manager of Domestic Distribution from 1987 to 1992. While there, he contributed to the release of such hit films as Ghost, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop 2, and The Hunt for Red October.

Mr. Blake's career began at Paramount in 1974, where he served in the Chicago territory as a sales booker. He was subsequently promoted to various sales positions, including sales manager of the Detroit territory in 1976, branch manager of the Milwaukee/Indianapolis territory in 1977 and branch manager of the Chicago territory in 1978.

He moved to the Los Angeles offices of the Walt Disney Company's theatrical sales unit, Buena Vista Distribution, in 1980, as assistant to the general sales manager. He returned to Paramount as manager of the Western Division in 1981 and was promoted to Vice President of Theatrical Distribution in 1984.

Mr. Blake is a member of the California Bar Association, Vice President of the Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation and a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. He is also a member of the Los Angeles chapter of Variety Club Children's Charities and was honored with the 1995 Humanitarian Award from the Variety Club of Queens, New York. In 2002, he was named Entertainment Marketer of the Year by Brandweek Magazine.

He holds a bachelors' degree in economics from Northwestern University and a law degree from Whittier College of Law.

He and his wife Barbara have four children and live in the Los Angeles area.