Yahoo Lifestyle Sony Pictures Names Pixar Vet Michael Agulnek EVP Global Publicity; Rose Phillips Promoted To EVP Global Digital Marketing & Social Media
EXCLUSIVE: Former Disney/Pixar veteran Michael Agulnek has joined Sony Pictures as EVP Global Publicity, where he will report to Danielle Misher, Co-Head of Theatrical Marketing.
In addition, Rose Phillips has been promoted to EVP Global Digital Marketing and Social Media. Reporting to Elias Plishner in the Global Marketing department, Phillips will continue to work across the studio’s film and TV content including via Sony Pictures Global Digital Creative, Social Media as well as the new Influencer Marketing Team.
Agulnek will oversee the Motion Picture Group’s global publicity teams to develop and execute strategic campaigns covering the theatrical and home entertainment windows across the studio’s labels including Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures, 3000 Pictures, Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Animation.
He counts more than three decades working as a marketing and public relations executive, most recently as VP Worldwide Publicity at Pixar Animation Studios, where he oversaw global campaigns for new releases and awards including Toy Story 4, which won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature and grossed more than $1 billion globally; Oscar winner Coco, which earned over $800 million globally; and Finding Dory, which earned over $1 billion globally.
Previously, Agulnek was SVP Publicity at Paramount Pictures, where he oversaw film and awards campaigns across the studio’s slate including Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, Jason Reitman’s Up in the Air and DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda, the first of four films in the billion-dollar franchise. In addition, he has worked at MGM Studios, Imax Corp, Warner Bros Pictures and Miramax Films.
“Michael is one of the most well-respected PR executives in the industry and his seasoned expertise in crafting strategic and innovative campaigns across a diverse range of films is invaluable. I’m thrilled to welcome him to Sony Pictures and excited to have him lead our publicity team across the globe,” said Misher.
Phillips joined the studio 11 years ago and has helped lead campaigns for recent films including Bad Boys: Ride or Die, which has earned over $400 million at the global box office; Anyone But You, which became a smash as it amassed over 2.8 billion views under the #AnyoneButYou hashtag on TikTok and grossed over $220 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated romantic comedy since 2016; Insidious: The Red Door, which had the second highest domestic opening weekend in the franchise’s history behind Insidious: Chapter 2, earning nearly $190 million globally; and Oscar-nominated film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, which is Sony Pictures Animation’s highest-grossing film worldwide and was the third highest-grossing film domestically in 2023, earning over $680 million globally.
Other film campaigns Phillips has worked on include Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home and Spider-Man: No Way Home, Bad Boys For Life, the Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Don’t Breathe, Little Women, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and countless others.
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