Philip Rowley, CFO, Sony Pictures Entertainment

The Bob Johnston Podcast

Philip Rowley, CFO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, might just win the award for The Most Interesting CFO in the World.

Aside from having amassed decades of knowledge about his industry and craft, he's also extremely well-read and and has an incredible knack for leadership, based in part, at least, on his breadth of reading (Side note on reading: Mark Twain once said, "The man who does not read had no advantage over the man who cannot read.").

Philip and I cover a lot of ground, including:

• How he became a company President at age 29
• Navigating the complexities of supply chains in the Music industry
• Leveraging technology and AI as a lens into data standardization and integration

One of my biggest takeaways is the importance of adapting one's leadership style over time – i.e. don't be rigid, be flexible – and emphasizing continuous learning. (Note: Philip's reading list has been widely circulated at his company. See show notes).

He also shares his belief in managing for value rather than short-term metrics, providing contrasting examples from his time at AOL Europe and Sony Pictures. Bill highlights the significance of balancing short-term and long-term goals and describes his approach to leadership as one that fosters intrinsic motivation and trust within teams. Additionally, he touches on the challenges of avoiding overwork and the importance of leveraging coaching to empower employees. And, a lot more!

Enjoy!

About Philip

Philip Rowley is Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer for Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE). Mr. Rowley is responsible for all of the Company’s financial affairs and oversees SPE’s information technology, facilities, procurement, security, and health and safety divisions. Rowley was at AOL Europe in London from 2001-2007. As CFO, he was instrumental in moving the company into profitability and was in due course named COO, and later CEO. Before AOL, Rowley was at Kingfisher PLC, where he served as Group Finance Director; at Golden Books Family Entertainment as COO and CFO, and was co-founder and Managing Director of Tribeca Technologies in New York, a technology company specializing in ISDN connectivity and sound compression technologies.

Rowley was based in New York as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of EMI Music Worldwide, where he was responsible for finance, strategic planning, information technology, human resources, and the studio's group (which included Abbey Road). During the six years in that role, he led the acquisition of Virgin Music, Chrysalis Records, and IRS Records. Before that, Rowley served in several senior roles at EMI Music including Finance Director for Europe. He was Vice President for Finance at Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment in Los Angeles; and Vice President for Finance and Planning for Thorn EMI Video in New York.

Since 2007, Rowley has held several non-executive board seats including Promethean World plc, where he served as Non-Executive Director and then Chairman from 2010-2015; HMV Group plc, where he served as Non-Executive Director and then Chairman from 2007-2013; MISYS Plc and Tradus PLC; and ARM Holdings plc, where he served for over nine years, during which time he successively chaired the audit and remuneration committees.

Rowley is known for his strong leadership skills, strategic mindset, and ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams. He is highly respected within the industry for his financial acumen, business acumen, and commitment to driving value for shareholders. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Rowley is also actively involved in various industry associations and community initiatives. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance from a prestigious university and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). His dedication to excellence and passion for the entertainment