Colin Decker Named New General Manager of Funimation
Decker Joins with Over 20 Years' Experience Building Digital Entertainment Brands with Companies Such as Crunchyroll, Discovery and Virgin
Sony Pictures Television (SPT), a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment, today announced Colin Decker as the new General Manager of its leading global anime distributor, Funimation. Decker joins the company with more than two decades of experience in digital and immersive entertainment, working with companies such as Crunchyroll, Discovery and Virgin. Earlier this year, Gen Fukunaga who founded Funimation and served as its President and CEO for the past 25 years, decided to step away from day to day management of Funimation and will support a transition of leadership as he moves into a role as Chairman. During the transition period, Decker will report to both Mike Hopkins, Chairman of Sony Pictures Television and Fukunaga. Fukunaga will continue to report to Hopkins.
“Funimation is a unique asset and its FunimationNow service is a cornerstone of SPT's direct-to-consumer strategy to super-serve niche, highly engaged audiences such as the anime community,” said Mike Hopkins, Chairman of Sony Pictures Television. “Adding Colin's leadership, experience in emerging media and proven track record of success to the mix is an exciting next step for Funimation. I also want to personally thank Gen, who is widely regarded as the dean of anime in the U.S., for his stewardship of Funimation since Sony's acquisition and his willingness to guide us through this period of transition in his new role as Chairman.”
“Funimation has been a market leader for over two decades, growing Anime from a small community of dedicated fans into the global phenomenon that it is today,” said Decker. “I am incredibly excited to join this talented team and honored to build upon the legacy of this great brand.”
Since the acquisition of Funimation by Sony Pictures Television in 2017, Funimation has experienced tremendous growth, particularly in its streaming service FunimationNow which has doubled its subscriber base in the last year. In addition to Funimation, there are other strong anime businesses within the Sony family including SPT's Animax and Aniplex in Sony Music Entertainment (Japan). Under the leadership of Hopkins and Decker, the team will look to further promote collaboration among the various anime businesses within Sony.
For over 20 years, Decker has led transformational change through innovative combinations of content and technology that reach new generations of audiences. Decker joins SPT from Within Unlimited where he served as Chief Operating Officer, focused on immersive media and technology across augmented and virtual reality with cross-platform distribution. Prior to Within, Decker served as Chief Operating Officer of Crunchyroll Inc. where he was responsible for the SVOD's overall strategy and execution and helped drive the service to double-digit subscriber growth through original programming, live events, merchandising, theatrical, and games leading up to the eventual acquisition by AT&T in 2017.
Prior to Crunchyroll, Decker served as General Manager of Discovery Digital Networks, whose data-driven content approach drove billions of views and added millions of followers leading to a merger with Group 9 Media. He is an active seed-stage investor and has served as Senior Advisor to a range of technology, investment and media companies including Richard Branson's Virgin Investments and video analytics firm, Tubular Labs. Decker has also held executive leadership and strategic partnership roles at Rooftop Media, Yahoo! and was an early employee at Current TV, where he developed viewer-created advertising.
Decker holds a bachelor's degree in Art from Bowdoin College and an MFA in Film from Boston University.
About Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is one of the television industry's leading content providers, producing, distributing and carrying programming worldwide in every genre and for every platform. In addition to managing one of the industry's largest libraries of award-winning feature films, television shows and formats, SPT is home to a thriving global content business, operating 24 wholly-owned or joint-venture production companies in 12 countries, as well as linear and digital channels around the world. Sony Pictures Television is a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company.
About Funimation
Funimation, a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Television, is a global leader in the world of anime. A fully integrated, next-generation entertainment studio, the company's fan-first philosophy is anchored in its omnichannel approach to its immersive offerings. From streaming and home entertainment to theatrical distribution and broadcast, Funimation's commitment to character-driven storytelling, combined with tech innovation and key distribution partnerships, provides audiences with multiple and meaningful touchpoints to connect with this immersive world. FunimationNow, a next generation streaming service, provides subscribers with instant access to their favorite sub and dub shows in ad-free HD on the widest array of platforms – including smartphones, tablets, TVs and gaming consoles. Funimation Films, the theatrical division of Funimation, acquires and distributes both anime and live action movies from prominent international filmmakers that appeal to the interests and passion of all types of fans. For more information about Funimation, visit funimation.com.
Sony Pictures Television (SPT), a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment, today announced Colin Decker as the new General Manager of its leading global anime distributor, Funimation. Decker joins the company with more than two decades of experience in digital and immersive entertainment, working with companies such as Crunchyroll, Discovery and Virgin. Earlier this year, Gen Fukunaga who founded Funimation and served as its President and CEO for the past 25 years, decided to step away from day to day management of Funimation and will support a transition of leadership as he moves into a role as Chairman. During the transition period, Decker will report to both Mike Hopkins, Chairman of Sony Pictures Television and Fukunaga. Fukunaga will continue to report to Hopkins.
“Funimation is a unique asset and its FunimationNow service is a cornerstone of SPT's direct-to-consumer strategy to super-serve niche, highly engaged audiences such as the anime community,” said Mike Hopkins, Chairman of Sony Pictures Television. “Adding Colin's leadership, experience in emerging media and proven track record of success to the mix is an exciting next step for Funimation. I also want to personally thank Gen, who is widely regarded as the dean of anime in the U.S., for his stewardship of Funimation since Sony's acquisition and his willingness to guide us through this period of transition in his new role as Chairman.”
“Funimation has been a market leader for over two decades, growing Anime from a small community of dedicated fans into the global phenomenon that it is today,” said Decker. “I am incredibly excited to join this talented team and honored to build upon the legacy of this great brand.”
Since the acquisition of Funimation by Sony Pictures Television in 2017, Funimation has experienced tremendous growth, particularly in its streaming service FunimationNow which has doubled its subscriber base in the last year. In addition to Funimation, there are other strong anime businesses within the Sony family including SPT's Animax and Aniplex in Sony Music Entertainment (Japan). Under the leadership of Hopkins and Decker, the team will look to further promote collaboration among the various anime businesses within Sony.
For over 20 years, Decker has led transformational change through innovative combinations of content and technology that reach new generations of audiences. Decker joins SPT from Within Unlimited where he served as Chief Operating Officer, focused on immersive media and technology across augmented and virtual reality with cross-platform distribution. Prior to Within, Decker served as Chief Operating Officer of Crunchyroll Inc. where he was responsible for the SVOD's overall strategy and execution and helped drive the service to double-digit subscriber growth through original programming, live events, merchandising, theatrical, and games leading up to the eventual acquisition by AT&T in 2017.
Prior to Crunchyroll, Decker served as General Manager of Discovery Digital Networks, whose data-driven content approach drove billions of views and added millions of followers leading to a merger with Group 9 Media. He is an active seed-stage investor and has served as Senior Advisor to a range of technology, investment and media companies including Richard Branson's Virgin Investments and video analytics firm, Tubular Labs. Decker has also held executive leadership and strategic partnership roles at Rooftop Media, Yahoo! and was an early employee at Current TV, where he developed viewer-created advertising.
Decker holds a bachelor's degree in Art from Bowdoin College and an MFA in Film from Boston University.
About Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is one of the television industry's leading content providers, producing, distributing and carrying programming worldwide in every genre and for every platform. In addition to managing one of the industry's largest libraries of award-winning feature films, television shows and formats, SPT is home to a thriving global content business, operating 24 wholly-owned or joint-venture production companies in 12 countries, as well as linear and digital channels around the world. Sony Pictures Television is a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company.
About Funimation
Funimation, a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Television, is a global leader in the world of anime. A fully integrated, next-generation entertainment studio, the company's fan-first philosophy is anchored in its omnichannel approach to its immersive offerings. From streaming and home entertainment to theatrical distribution and broadcast, Funimation's commitment to character-driven storytelling, combined with tech innovation and key distribution partnerships, provides audiences with multiple and meaningful touchpoints to connect with this immersive world. FunimationNow, a next generation streaming service, provides subscribers with instant access to their favorite sub and dub shows in ad-free HD on the widest array of platforms – including smartphones, tablets, TVs and gaming consoles. Funimation Films, the theatrical division of Funimation, acquires and distributes both anime and live action movies from prominent international filmmakers that appeal to the interests and passion of all types of fans. For more information about Funimation, visit funimation.com.
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