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Harvey Lester Schein (September 15, 1927 – April 13, 2008) was an American businessman and CEO of Sony America. He was known for his brash style and his cost cutting at various companies over his 30 year career. As a record and entertainment company executive he helped build Columbia Records into a major international record company and then became President of Sony Corporation of America as one of the first Americans to lead an American subsidiary of a Japanese company.
Early life and education
editSchein was born (September 15, 1927) in the Bronx NY to Jewish parents who worked in the garment industry. A graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School he joined the Naval Reserve in 1945 and briefly served in the pacific just after the end of World War II on the USS Octavia.
After his discharge from the Navy he attended NYU Uptown in the Bronx on the GI bill before enrolling at Harvard Law School[1] were he was a member of the Harvard Law Review.
Career
editColumbia/CBS years
editAfter law school Schein joined the law firm of Rosenman & Colin where he worked on the CBS records account. From there he was hired by Goddard Lieberson to become general counsel and then executive vice president of the CBS international record division, then known as Columbia Records. While at Columbia, Schein hired another young Rosenman Colin lawyer Clive Davis who later went on to become President of CBS and a legendary music producer.
Sony years
editSchein left CBS to become President and CEO of Sony America in 1972. Under his tenure annual sales rose from $300 million to $750 and earnings increased seven fold. In 1976 he oversaw the release of the Betamax the first home video recorder. Challenged by MCA/Universal Studios and Walt Disney as an infringement of copyright Schein was at the helm of Sony when it won a major victory in the Supreme Court Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc.. Opening the way to a revolution in home entertainment. The coming years the betamax lost its place as industry standard to JVS home recording format VHS.[2]
Post Sony years
editSchein’s abrasive style while successful at creating profits did not mesh well with his Japanese parent and he left Sony in 1978. From there he moved to Warner Communications as Executive Vice President and then moved to become President of PolyGram - a movie and record company.
Schein’s last corporate stop was as President of Rupert Murdoch's Skyband - an early attempt at creating a satellite subscription television company.[3]
References
edit- ^ Weber, Bruce (May 15, 2008). "Harvey Schein, Promoter of Betamax at Sony, Dies at 80".
- ^ "The Strong-Willed Schein".
- ^ "Murdoch to delay DBS service until 1985 - UPI Archives". UPI.