Mumbai: After serving as president of the digital division at Sony Pictures Entertainment for nearly ten years, Yair Landau is planning to leave the studio in April; it was announced by Sony Pictures chairman and CEO Michael Lynton and co-chairman Amy Pascal.

Landau, who has been with Sony Pictures for 17 years, is planning a new games and animation venture to develop and produce content for use across all media.

Lynton and Pascal also announced that Landau will continue working with Sony Pictures as an Executive Producer of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, an animated feature scheduled for release in 2009.

"When Yair came to us a few months ago and said he was ready to move on, we wanted him to stay, but it became clear that he wanted to do on the outside what he had been doing here on the inside for so long and so well — building a new business in the ‘new media’ environment," said Lynton. "He helped bring us into the digital age with the Sony Pictures Digital division, which has served as our very own new media incubator," said Lynton. "His strategic vision, technological savvy and business acumen helped us keep pace with the rapid changes affecting our industry."

"I have been proud to work with a colleague as creative and innovative as Yair," said Pascal. "From his role in helping to bring the Spider-Man franchise to our studio to his leadership of our digital division, Yair has left an indelible mark on our company and this industry."

"Having had the chance to be an entrepreneur inside a company like Sony Pictures, growing new lines of business that can now stand on their own, this is the right time for me to move on and explore exciting new opportunities in the industry," said Landau.