The candidate that Akio Morita was optimistic about was Peter Gubel recommended by Yetnigov, the general manager of Columbia Records, which was acquired in 1987.
Yetnigov recommended this candidate to Akio Morita two weeks ago after accidentally seeing his old friend Peter Gubel being interviewed and praising the business philosophy of Japanese companies.
This Jew, who had been in contact with Ronald who had just debuted because of Brooke Shields' "endless love," also had a very successful business.
Guber-Peters Films, which he collaborated with Jon Peters, is an important independent production company in Hollywood. His name has appeared in "Rain Man", "Batman", "The Color Purple", etc. Successfully
in the column of producers of major productions.
Unlike most medium-sized Hollywood production companies that have experienced very unsatisfactory results after the stock market crash and interest rate hikes, Peter Gubel acquired Barris Productions last year, a listed company that mainly produces game reality TV programs, and officially became
Owners of companies listed on NASDAQ.
After escaping the fate of Cannon Pictures, which was tragically squeezed by debt interest and was acquired, Gubel and Peters also began to shrink their production lines. But the cunning of the Jews still left them with
One of the biggest advantages——
Because of their connections in the industry and their good taste in selecting scripts and stars, Guber and Peters have left their names on the producers' list of many award-winning films.
It is precisely because he has become a listed executive producer in many Oscar-nominated and box-office-successful films that makes Yetnigov's recommendation very convenient and convincing.
Akio Morita has resigned as CEO this year, and he also has more time to do what he likes to do and promote Japan's culture. He has been away from front-line business for a long time and was listed in Yetnigov's recommendation letter.
The names of dozens of movies that Guber participated in were confused.
He immediately pointed out that this was the most suitable CEO candidate after Sony acquired Columbia Pictures in the future. This gave Norio Ohga, who was in charge of the acquisition business, a slap in the face. He suddenly received a call from Akio Morita's office. For a moment, he
Don't even know what to do.
This matter also starts with Sony’s retirement age...
Sony has long been a group company composed of multiple business departments. For management needs, Akio Morita established a rule very early on that the presidents and CEOs of business departments must retire when they reach the age of 65.
Of course, because of Japan's unique employment culture, the presidents of these business units will not be kicked out immediately. Instead, they will move out of the Sony Group's office and walk to the Jingshen Building across the street, a two-minute walk, where they will serve as "consultants."
Remaining heat for consultation.
However, Akio Morita himself did not want to retire at the age of 65. Even though he was already 65 years old in 1986, he still postponed his resignation as Sony's global CEO until this year and handed over to Norio Ohga.
Moreover, his retirement scene is different from others. It can almost be said that he retired without retirement. He retained all the secretaries and staff that he had when he was CEO and president. He established an Akio Morita office within Sony and continued to control the company.
We provide active “consultancy” for various businesses.
In this way, while giving up the heavy entry management work, he retained the right to intervene in the company's strategy and personnel arrangements at any time.
Of course, Akio Morita, who could not legitimately intervene in daily management work, also felt a huge sense of loss, so he began to indulge in enjoying wine and giving speeches in various places - speeches whose main purpose was to promote Japan's excellent culture.
This series of speeches on the theme of getting rid of dependence on America and becoming an independent economic and military power was compiled and merged with the speeches of Ishihara, the Minister of Transportation. After editing, it was released as a book and became a popular book.
Bestsellers in Japan:
The name of this book is "Japan Can Say No to America".
Of course, because the content of this book is too offensive, and in the context of the trade friction between the United States and Japan, having Sony's former CEO sign such a book will cause a lot of trouble for Sony's business. So this
This book is not authorized to be published in an official English version.
However, this book is very suitable for the current situation of Japanese products selling well in America. Japanese people like it very much. It is often in the top ten of the best-seller list, so it has become a long-selling book and has been reprinted several times.
Because of this, it also attracted the attention of international analysts. Many unofficial English translations were also pirated and published throughout America.
For this reason, Norio Ohga also asked the lawyers of Sony's American branch to watch these pirates sue, and deleted the part of Akio Morita's speech in all foreign language versions, leaving only the text of Transportation Minister Ishihara and the title of the book.
The easily reactive word "America" was also deleted and replaced with the generic "Japan can say no".
Akio Morita, who almost caused a big mess for Sony just after leaving office, desperately hopes to have a chance to prove that he only decided to retire for the sake of the continuation of talents. He is also the smartest and most intelligent manager within Sony.
In this way, Akio Morita saw that Oga had left out a genius like Gubel, and immediately felt that this was an opportunity to prove himself. A formal document was sent from Akio Morita's office to Norio Oga, the new CEO of the group.
secretary.
"Ronald San, this is the situation. I think as an American who has the deepest understanding of Eastern culture, you should understand my dilemma in this situation."
Norio Ohga personally called to explain that it is really hard for ordinary Americans to understand this situation. It seems a bit unworthy of the name for a current CEO to have such rude interference in personnel matters.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "I can understand, but I am afraid that the bankers on Wall Street, and the bosses of studios and movie theaters in Hollywood will not understand and do
I don’t know who has the final say in the newly established Sony Columbia?”
Ronald also didn't like the candidate he recommended, and his position was taken away from him. So there was also a hint of discord in his words.
"Actually, if you ask any senior Hollywood manager, they will tell you the truth. Peter Guber's executive producers are just in name only. Those who actually decide to green light those projects are the big studios.
People at the level of vice president or above in charge of production..."
Ronald still has some room to speak. If it is made clear, Guber and Peters' power in these projects is limited even if it is more than a mascot.
Especially Jon Peters, who started his career as a hairstylist working with female stars. His knowledge of film production is very limited, and his power is mainly parasitic on other stars. Even the female star Kim Basinger knows how to hug Rona.
De's thighs are much more useful than Peters.
"I understand, I will personally explain to Mr. Frank Price. The post of president of Sony Columbia after the merger will still be reserved for him. Our production business needs someone who really knows what he is doing to lead it.
.”
Dahe explained and then hung up the phone.
"What's wrong?" Diane saw that Ronald's face was not very good, so he brought him a cup of coffee.
"Nothing, Peter Guber will be the CEO of New Columbia." Ronald took a sip of coffee, and the taste improved a lot.
He felt a little happier, and he wasn't so sullen anymore.
Peter Guber is also an acquaintance, and he will probably not pose any obstacle to his cooperation with Columbia in the future. Moreover, the fact that this person can be included in the list of executive producers of so many movies fully demonstrates that he is a master at manipulating power.
Such a person might actually be the kind of executive Sony needs. An "honest person" like Frank Price really can't beat him.
"Gubelsang, I admire you very much. I have already sent my opinions on your appointment to Dahesang. This is how I recruited him back then, hahaha..."
"Chairman Morita's vision and experience are second to none in Japan, no, in the world..."
Instead of waiting for the announcement of the merger in New York, Peter Guber took Jon Peters with him to Tokyo to meet with the man who really decided his job - Akio Morita.
What Guber is best at is sales and public relations for individuals. Back then, he was filming a movie and once broke into the coast of Cuba. After being detained by the Cuban Navy, he used his sharp tongue to persuade people all the way.
They, as Americans, met President Fidel.
This ability to climb along the pole to find the most critical power point has been integrated into his nature, so naturally, he knows very well who he needs to thank.
"Hahaha, that's good. But Sony is a viable company after all. It still needs to let young people try it at the most appropriate time, so that when we old men are still capable, we can correct the sailing of the big ship."
Although his speech was published as "Japan Can Say No", Akio Morita still attaches great importance to the American people's opinion of him.
The Japanese people of their generation always have a mentality in their hearts that we must do our best in business and compare ourselves to the Americans.
"President Morita is not old at all, he is very young..." Gubel began to flatter him. The beauty in Akio Morita's arms was the most beautiful in the room, and the red wine was the most expensive in the room.
"I said Gubelsan..."
"Please call me Peter..."
"I admire people like you very much. Japan's tradition is suitable for manufacturing, and the foundation of the world lies in manufacturing..."
"You are absolutely right. America has lost the manufacturing industry that they rely on to win. Now, making movies and building cars is not as profitable as those bankers on Wall Street moving their fingers in front of the computer."
It’s rare to have an American who can speak well. With Akio Morita in his arms, he openly told many stories about how he started a business after the war and made Sony grow and develop step by step.
"Actually, our Morita family originally brewed sake for the general. These two bottles of "Junmai Ginjo" and "Daiginjo" are the works of our Morita Shuzo. You can try them."
"Hahaha, it turns out to be Mr. Morita's family's famous wine. Haha, I accepted it."
Akio Morita was confused by this Japanese sentence. He patted Gubel on the shoulder, "By the way, how is your contract with Warner Bros.? When you work here, you won't have anything to do with other big studios.
It’s a matter of contract.”
"Don't worry, it's very simple to deal with." Gubel smiled and put away the big box of Morita Winery.
"Well, we Japanese people mean what we say. This kind of business culture is the direction of future international development."
"What I'm saying is that there are many practitioners in Hollywood, and they have learned a lot from the Japanese company's business philosophy." Gubel flattered some more, and then left.
"Mr. President, Gubel is very humble..."
After Guber left, the staff from Akio Morita's office came over to congratulate him and congratulate the president on regaining an American talent.
"These people are ungrateful and will change jobs when they see benefits. They are not like our Japanese talents who follow one company and one leader for life as soon as they join the company... How many years have you been following me? Six years? It's time to go elsewhere.
I am now the leader of a small branch..."
"Haha..." It was an unexpected surprise. The staff officer was so happy that he fell to the ground to thank him.
…
"Columbia Pictures has produced the American film classics "It Happened One Night" and "On the Waterfront."
As expected, yesterday, the company agreed to be acquired by Japanese electronics giant Sony. The acquisition will allow Sony to pay US$3.4 billion in cash and assume Colombia's US$1.4 billion in debt, making it the largest acquisition of an American company by a Japanese company to date.
Expensive acquisition.
The deal, which had been widely rumored since Monday but was only confirmed yesterday, would make Sony the first Japanese company to acquire one of the top seven film and TV show production companies.
Combined with the $2 billion acquisition of CBS Records in 1987, the Columbia acquisition would place Sony into the ranks of the handful of diversified media and entertainment companies expected to dominate global markets in the 1990s."
"Sony immediately committed to placing the 65-year-old film and television production company under the management of its U.S. subsidiary and keeping it as independent as possible as a member of the U.S. film industry.
Sony executives said they are in talks with producers Peter Guber and Jon Peters, the latter of whom is co-CEO of Guber-Peters Entertainment, about the possibility of taking some management roles at the company
.
Industry sources say Sony is considering Guber as CEO of Columbia and speculate that Sony may also acquire Guber-Peters, a small publicly traded company."
Not surprisingly, after the stock market closed on Friday, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and other major media released news, officially announcing Sony's acquisition of Columbia Pictures.
The price was much higher than originally expected. Coca-Cola sold all its shares to Sony, including Columbia, Samsung, Columbia Television Productions, the Loews Cinemas chain with 820 theaters and other businesses.
This transaction has been approved by the three parties of the board of directors of Coca-Cola, Columbia Pictures, and Sony. It is an uncontroversial approach that is higher than the transaction price, and Sony completed the acquisition at a premium.
As long as the Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS) and other government committees give procedural approval, Sony will become comparable to Warner Bros. Pictures, which was just acquired by Times Communications, and become an integrated company integrating production, TV series production, theaters, distribution, etc.
comprehensive media group.
…
On Sunday morning, Ronald was jogging and exercising in the yard. The Chinese-style garden and arch bridge, coupled with the arbor forest not far away that blocked the dog's sight, gave people a pleasant smell when breathing.
"Mr. Luo, there is your emergency number..." Suddenly, Wang Ma, who was on the balcony on the second floor, was ordered by Diane to shout at him.
"Hello, this is Ronald." Ronald answered the phone while wiping his sweat with a towel. Next to him, Diane asked Wang Ma to serve black tea.
"I'm Dahe, Ronald Sang, you have to save Sony's acquisition case..."
"What's wrong, Dahe Sang, hasn't it been reported by the media?"
"Hey, Chairman Morita said something that he shouldn't have said when he was interviewed by American media in Tokyo last night... Now, we will be strictly scrutinized by the American Congress and the Ministry of Commerce."