Crunchyroll CEO Colin Decker Steps Down, Passing Baton To Funimation Vet Rahul Purini As Sony Anime Integration Continues

deadline.com:

After three years at Sony, Colin Decker is stepping down as CEO of Crunchyroll, with longtime Funimation exec Rahul Purini poised to run the anime brand as president.The transition is occurring as Crunchyroll and Funimation continue to integrate their operations.

AT&T sold Crunchyroll to Sony last year for $1.175 billion and the two anime operations have been joining forces in recent months.Purini has been COO of Crunchyroll after holding the same title at Funimation.Keith Le Goy, president of distribution and networks for Sony Pictures Entertainment, confirmed the move in a memo to employees. (Read it in full below.) Decker “championed and played a key role in our acquisition of Crunchyroll,” Le Goy wrote.“It is an honor and a privilege for me to take on this new role, and to drive the next chapter of Crunchyroll forward,” Purini said in a statement provided to Deadline. “Having spent the last seven years involved in nearly every facet of the business, and seeing how far we’ve come – the opportunity ahead is bright, and I look forward to what we will do together next.”Decker saluted the troops at the anime brand. “Because of your dedication, resilience, and belief, we have realized what seemed impossible just a few years ago,” he said.The anime business is targeted but lucrative.

Fans of the genre are often willing to spend on not only screen offerings but merchandise and other exclusives tied to their favorite properties.

Just prior to the close of the merger last summer, Crunchyroll said it had surpassed 5 million streaming subscribers.Here is Le Goy’s full memo:Dear Colleagues,I’m writing to share some important news about changes to our Crunchyroll leadership team.After more than three years at Sony, Colin Decker