The executive joins the Sony fold in the wake of Hannah Minghella’s appointment as president of production at Columbia.

Michelle Raimo-Kouyate arrives from DreamWorks Animation where she served as executive producer for the upcoming Shrek spin-off Puss In Boots.

In the coming weeks, Raimo-Kouyate will work closely with Minghella as the latter transitions to her new role at Columbia Pictures as president of production.

Raimo-Kouyate began her film career 14 years ago at Miramax Films and rose through the ranks to become senior vice-president of development and production, overseeing such titles as Chocolat, Ella Enchanted and An Unfinished Life. 

She relocated from New York to Los Angeles in 2005 to serve briefly as senior vice-president of production at Paramount Pictures and in early 2006 she transitioned to Nickelodeon Movies to serve in the same capacity until the end of that year.

Sony Pictures Entertainment president of Digital Productions for Bob Osher called Raimo-Kouyate an “extraordinarily talented executive.”