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Media Play News

September 23, 2025

Welcome to Media Play News’ second annual “50 Women to Watch in the Digital Entertainment Business,” a salute to the top women executives involved in bringing movies, shows and other filmed content directly to the consumer, either at home or on the go.

Once again, our list is a who’s who of the women our editors believe will play the biggest role in shaping and defining — and, in some cases, reshaping and redefining — the content, distribution and technology involved in the “last mile” of entertainment.

To come up with our list, the Media Play News editorial team relied on nominations from our readers as well as our own research to sift through hundreds of worthy contenders to identify the 50 standouts. And the increasingly fast pace of change in our industry is reflected in the fact that more than half the women on this year’s list are newcomers.

So let’s meet the 2025 edition of Media Play News’ “50 Women to Watch in the Digital Entertainment Business” and, through a Q&A sprinkled throughout the section, see what they have to say in a separate Q&A posted here.

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Bela Bajaria

Chief Content Officer
Netflix

Appointed to her present post in January 2023, Bajaria oversees the teams responsible for all Netflix content from around the world, including such series as “Stranger Things,” “Squid Game,” “Wednesday,” “Bridgerton,” “Heeramandi” and “Lupin,” and films including Leave the World Behind, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F and Oscar winners All Quiet on the Western Front and Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. She also led Netflix’s push into live events and sports with such specials as Chris Rock: Selective Outrage and The Roast of Tom Brady, as well as multiyear deals with the NFL and WWE. Bajaria joined Netflix in 2016 to lead Netflix’s foray into unscripted programming. She later oversaw local-language originals across Europe, the Middle East, Turkey, Africa, India, Asia and Latin America. Before her ascension to Chief Content Officer, Bajaria was Head of Global TV. Prior to joining Netflix, Bajaria spent five years at Universal Television, most recently as President.

Courtenay Valenti

Head of Film, Streaming and Theatrical
Amazon MGM Studios

Valenti oversees all films for Amazon MGM Studios. At CinemaCon earlier this year, Amazon MGM Studios committed to releasing 15 films in theaters by 2027, with 14 theatrical titles already lined up for 2026. Valenti has been a driving force behind the studio’s commitment to theatrical, including the buildout of its own international theatrical distribution infrastructure. Also this year, Valenti played a key role in closing deals for Amy Pascal and David Heyman to produce and Denis Villeneuve to direct the studio’s upcoming James Bond film. Additionally, The Accountant 2, greenlighted under Valenti, recently became the studio’s second-most-watched streaming film of all time, landing at the No. 1 spot on Nielsen’s movie chart its debut week with 1.384 billion minutes streamed, in addition to receiving the Audience Award at SXSW. Prior to joining Amazon in March 2023, Valenti enjoyed a more-than-33-year run at Warner Bros. Pictures, most recently as President of Production and Development.

Cindy Holland

Chair, Direct-to-Consumer
Paramount, a Skydance Corporation

A former top executive at Netflix, Holland was tapped to lead streaming at the new Paramount, a Skydance Corporation, after the companies’ merger in early August. She is charged with overseeing the strategy, operations and performance of the company’s streaming platforms, Paramount+ and Pluto TV. Holland previously advised Skydance on the streaming business. Prior to that, she was CEO of global independent studio Sister, which she joined in July 2023. Holland is best known for her 18-year run at Netflix, which includes nine years as VP of Original Content. In that role, she established the network’s original programming strategy and oversaw the teams behind such pioneering series as “House of Cards,” “Orange Is the New Black,” “BoJack Horseman,” “Narcos,” “Stranger Things,” “The Crown” and “Ozark.” Holland began her career on the producing side, working at Spring Creek Productions with Paula Weinstein, and at Mutual
Film Co.

Alanna Powers

SVP, Worldwide Marketing
Paramount Home Entertainment

Powers spearheads the global marketing and distribution strategies for Paramount’s expansive portfolio of film and television content across digital transactional platforms. With a deep command of audience engagement and platform evolution, Powers has led the charge on some of the studio’s most successful releases — including Top Gun: Maverick, the “Mission: Impossible” franchise, and A Quiet Place — as well as legacy titles such as The Godfather and Titanic. She and her team have been instrumental in redefining the studio’s approach to modern windowing and digital consumption. Powers has more than two decades of experience spanning creative agencies and studio marketing. She joined Paramount in April 2016 as VP of International Marketing and was promoted into her present position in June 2019. Before that she was Director of Marketing at Redbox and enjoyed a nearly 13-year run at NBCUniversal, where she most recently served as Senior Director of Brand Marketing. Powers began her career at FCB Advertising.

Jennifer Storms

Chief Marketing Officer
NBCUniversal Television and Streaming

Storms leads brand strategy, integrated marketing, media and consumer engagement for all NBCUniversal entertainment content and sports, including content and brand marketing for Peacock. Storms also partners closely with NBCUniversal Media Group’s businesses to help shape consumer experiences to drive subscriber growth, cross-platform engagement and profitability across the ecosystem. Prior to being named CMO in January 2025, Storms was CMO of Entertainment and Sports, leading marketing strategy across the vast NBCUniversal Entertainment portfolio including NBC, USA Network, Bravo, Oxygen, E! and Syfy, among others, as well as the NBC Sports Group. She was charged with consumer engagement around premium live, social and digital content across the Sports and Entertainment portfolio, including the precedent-setting 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Storms joined NBC Sports in 2015 as CMO, and in February 2019 was elevated to CMO and EVP of Content Strategy. She joined NBCUniversal from PepsiCo Inc., where she most recently served as SVP of Global Sports Marketing.

Hilary J. Hoffman

EVP, Global Marketing
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

Hoffman leads strategic marketing for Universal Pictures’ home entertainment division across feature films, library titles and television properties worldwide. She shapes the division’s go-to-market strategies, spearheads innovative consumer engagement initiatives, and leverages emerging platforms, technologies, and direct-to-consumer channels to drive growth. Hoffman oversees all facets of brand, creative, digital content, media, publicity and consumer insights, with a strong focus on maximizing impact, advancing data-driven marketing capabilities, and implementing tools to optimize investment. Since joining Universal, Hoffman has guided some of the studio’s most successful home entertainment campaigns and played a pivotal role in pioneering industry innovations, including the launch of premium digital. Her leadership continues to position UPHE at the forefront of an evolving entertainment landscape.

Lexine Wong

Head of Global Multichannel Distribution Marketing
Sony Pictures Television

Wong leads marketing for SPE’s global home entertainment and television distribution businesses. She manages a team charged with charting consumer and trade strategies that span across every platform and format. Wong oversees the delivery of breakthrough, sharable and interactive marketing experiences across the studio’s full range of properties — from film to television, catalog and new-release — all with a data- and insights-driven approach that prioritizes audience engagement, viewership and transactions across multi-platform ecosystems. Wong’s oversight includes consumer and brand strategy, creative advertising, media, digital marketing, publicity, partnerships and content production, as well as fostering innovation and integrating emerging platforms. Wong was promoted into her present position in October 2020 after serving as Senior EVP of Worldwide Marketing for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. She has overseen marketing for some of the studio’s biggest films and catalog titles. Wong began her career in 1988 at ad agency Young & Rubicam.

Alisa Bowen

President
Disney+

Bowen oversees subscriber and revenue growth and content scheduling for The Walt Disney Co.’s flagship streamer as well as business operations across the company’s direct-to-consumer division, which also includes Hulu. She was promoted into the position in September 2022 and is now working on the integration of Hulu into the Disney+ app, a move Disney CEO Bob Iger on the company’s August earnings call said will provide viewers with a better experience and Disney with greater advertising revenue potential. Prior to taking charge of Disney+, Bowen served as EVP of Global Business Operations for Disney Streaming, overseeing global content and business operations for the company’s DTC video streaming businesses, including cross-functional leadership of the global Disney+ rollout in 154 markets worldwide. Bowen joined Disney in 2017 as CTO of international operations. Prior to that, Bowen held product, digital technology and general management leadership positions at major media organizations including Thomson Reuters, Dow Jones and News Corp.

Amy Reinhard

President, Advertising
Netflix

Since taking charge of Netflix’s ad business in October 2023, Reinhard has been scoring win after win. At the May Upfront presentations in New York City, she provided advertisers with some compelling statistics, noting that Netflix’s ad-supported subscription now reaches over 94 million global monthly users and more 18- to 34-year-olds than any other U.S. broadcast or cable network. Reinhard joined Netflix in 2016 as VP of Content Acquisition and later took on the newly formed Consumer Products organization. She subsequently led Netflix’s Studio Operations, overseeing global production and creative services. She managed multiple M&A initiatives, including Netflix’s acquisition of Scanline VFX in 2021 and Australian animation studio Animal Logic in 2022. Reinhard also led the acquisition, development and strategy for Netflix’s studio project in Fort Monmouth, N.J., in 2022. Prior to joining Netflix, Reinhard spent more than a decade at Paramount Pictures, where she ultimately rose to President of Worldwide TV Licensing and Distribution.

Marian Lee

Chief Marketing Officer
Netflix

Lee was named Chief Marketing Officer of Netflix in March 2022 after joining the company the year before as VP of Marketing for the U.S. and Canada. She oversees all aspects of marketing for Netflix on a global basis, including marketing for series, films and games, social media, consumer products, live experiences and partnerships. Recent wins include marketing campaigns for the third season of “Squid Game” and season two of “Wednesday.” Lee joined Netflix in 2021 after nearly eight years at Spotify, where she served as VP and Co-Head of Music; VP and Global Head of Artist and Label Services; and various other positions leading the Global Consumer Marketing and Creator Marketing teams. Prior to joining Spotify, Lee worked at some of the world’s leading brands in fashion and entertainment, including Condé Nast and J.Crew. She began her career at PwC as a management consultant in the Retail and Consumer Products division.

Sue Kroll

Head of Global Marketing, Film and Series
Amazon MGM Studios

Kroll oversees global marketing strategy and campaigns for series and films, both theatrical and those that go directly to streaming. She was promoted into the position in November 2022, six months after joining the studio as a consultant to lead the successful marketing efforts for “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” the biggest premiere in the history of Prime Video. Prior to joining Amazon, Kroll led her own production company, Kroll & Co. Entertainment, which she founded in 2018. Before that, she was President of Worldwide Marketing and Distribution for Warner Bros. Pictures, where she launched such major theatricals as Argo, Dunkirk, Mad Max: Fury Road, Inception and all of the “Harry Potter” films. Kroll began her career with Viacom, where she spent seven years in various divisions before moving to Atlanta to head marketing for Turner Network Television. Her tenure with Turner included a role with TNT and Cartoon Network Europe.

Erica Marie Dionne

SVP, Release Planning and Business Operations
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

Dionne oversees UPHE’s film and television release planning process and business operations strategy across digital platforms worldwide. She is responsible for establishing go-to-market best practices, managing cross-company supply chain initiatives, and forging innovative partnerships to maximize content in an evolving marketplace. Leading teams that manage workflows across internal and external stakeholders globally — as well as with key digital retail partners including Amazon, Apple, Google and Sky — Dionne drives strong coordination across markets, enabling timely, strategically aligned launches that reflect global priorities. Dionne assumed her expanded responsibilities in September 2025, after five years as SVP. She joined UPHE in 2009 as Manager of Product Development and Strategy. Beyond her corporate role, Dionne represents NBCUniversal as the Los Angeles Regional Advisory Board Chair for America On Tech, a national nonprofit focused on bridging the digital divide. She also serves as a CTA Division Board Representative for the Content and Entertainment industry.

Elizabeth Stone

Chief Technology Officer
Netflix

Appointed CTO in October 2023, Stone oversees the technology behind the country’s No. 1 streamer, including engineering, data science, consumer insights and product innovation. Most recently she’s been focused on the technological needs behind the streamer’s push into live events. She also played a key role in Netflix’s recent rollout of new viewer features. Last May, just before Netflix’s annual Upfront presentation to advertisers in New York City, she talked up a new generative AI search feature on iOS, launched as a small opt-in beta, that allows subscribers to search for shows and movies using natural, conversational phrases such as “I want something funny and upbeat.” Stone joined Netflix in 2020 as VP of Product Data Science and Engineering, and then rose to VP of Data and Insights. Previously, she worked in finance before transitioning to the tech industry as Chief Operating Officer at Nuna, and VP of Science at Lyft.

Nikki Santoro

CEO
IMDb

Santoro took the reins of what is formally known as the Internet Movie Database in January 2025. She is only the second person to hold this title since the company — an online database of information related to films, television series, podcasts, home videos, video games and streaming content — was founded 35 years ago. Under Santoro’s leadership, IMDb has enhanced its core database, advertising and licensing businesses, and IMDbPro membership service, and leveraged emerging technologies to deliver improved insights to its global audience. She leads strategic development, driving growth and innovation for advertising, content, product, technology and user experience through solutions ranging from high-impact experiential initiatives, strategic partnerships and advertising solutions that connect advertisers with users worldwide. Santoro joined IMDb in November 2016 as Head of Consumer and Advertising Product. She was promoted to GM, Consumer, in September 2019, and COO in December 2021. Earlier in her career, she enjoyed a 10-year run at Microsoft.

Jerrlyn Iwata

EVP, Business Development
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

Iwata oversees business development and distribution for Universal Pictures’ digital home entertainment arm. She heads the commercial licensing and business development team for the studio’s digital transactional licensing business (PEST, PVOD, EST, TVOD). She also is responsible for the studio’s global airline content licensing business and various other strategic business development initiatives around emerging models and technologies that impact film and television distribution. She serves on the Executive Leadership team and is an active participant in employee engagement and mentoring initiatives. Iwata joined Universal in 2011 as VP of Digital Distribution and was promoted to SVP of Digital Distribution four years later. Before that, she spent six years at Verizon Communications, where she most recently served as Director of Mobile Content Strategy and Acquisitions, a role in which she was charged with developing mobile video and over-the-top business opportunities across multiple access points.

Andrea Downing

President
PBS Distribution

Downing has redefined PBSd’s role in the evolving media landscape, transforming it from a packaged-media business into a dynamic multi-platform distributor of public media content worldwide. Her forward-looking strategy balances paid and free streaming models, ensuring both broad accessibility for audiences and sustainable revenue for the public media system. She led the company’s entry into digital streaming with the launch of its first niche service on Amazon’s Prime Video Subscription Channels in 2016. She and her team have launched a total of seven SVOD channels on Amazon in the U.S. and Canada and brought to market numerous FAST channels, including “Antiques Roadshow,” “Nature” and “PBS Travel.” PBSd has also significantly expanded its AVOD footprint across major platforms. Prior to joining PBSd, Downing served as VP of Home Entertainment and Partnerships at PBS Ventures and held operational leadership roles at Discovery Communications in the Consumer Products division.

Alison Hoffman

President
Starz Networks

Hoffman was integral in Starz’s recent separation from Lionsgate, launching the streamer as a standalone publicly traded company. She has a breadth of oversight that spans content acquisition and distribution to marketing and program planning. She has brought several new bundles to market, including Starz bundled with BET+, AMC+, Hallmark+ and HBO Max. Through her leadership, Starz has become one of the most bundled streaming services, delivering on its strategy of being a complementary offering that can be combined with both broad-based and targeted streamers. Prior to assuming her present post last year, Hoffman served as President of Domestic Networks since February 2020. She was one of the key executives responsible for launching the Starz app and managing the network’s direct-to-consumer business. Prior to that, Hoffman was Chief Marketing Officer and, before that, EVP of Marketing. Hoffman joined Starz in 2012 after serving as AMC Networks’ VP of Creative and Brand Strategy.

Teresa Phillips

Co-Founder and CEO
Spherex

With a background in media and technology, Phillips has expanded Spherex from serving compliance teams to powering intelligence across the entire media value chain. The company’s AI platform now delivers critical content insights to production, localization, distribution, sales and consumption teams at major studios worldwide. What makes Phillips’ approach revolutionary is her deployment of AI agents as collaborative team members who handle routine tasks while accelerating complex decision-making. These agents synthesize data from multiple sources to provide a deep understanding of content, enabling faster global expansion and unlocking previously untapped catalog value. Phillips is demonstrating how AI can transform from a specialized tool to an enterprise-wide intelligence system. Before founding Spherex in 2018, Phillips founded the venture-backed company Graspr and held executive positions at Yahoo! and Time Warner. She also spent seven years at V2 Solutions, helping media and entertainment companies distribute digital film and television titles globally.

Flory Bramnick

EVP, Distribution
Sony Pictures Television

Bramnick is responsible for feature film and television series sales across all of Sony Pictures Television’s distribution platforms in the U.S. and Canada, which include broadcast networks, pay and basic cable, digital (AVOD, SVOD and FAST), and first-run syndication. She manages teams in New York, Los Angeles and Toronto. Bramnick started at SPT in 2002 as VP of Strategic Operations. Since then, she has held a variety of progressively more responsible positions, from strategic operations to business development to sales, and has licensed some of SPE’s most renowned IP including “Seinfeld,” “Breaking Bad,” “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy.” Just last year, she played a key role in crafting a new licensing deal with Paramount for the comedy series “The King of Queens,” which for the first time included streaming rights on Paramount+. Prior to joining SPE, Bramnick was VP of Business Development and Strategic Alliances at Belo Interactive.

Jill Allen

SVP, Global Digital Transactional
Sony Pictures Television

Allen oversees Sony Pictures Entertainment’s global digital transactional business, spanning major global retailers such as Amazon, Apple and Google, along with key local partners worldwide. Previously leading the North American business since 2019, she recently expanded her scope to include international markets. Allen drives performance across the studio’s new-release and catalog titles, working closely with teams across sales and planning functions. She began her career in 2002 at Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, and from 2004 to 2006 was International Sales Planning Manager at The Walt Disney Co. Allen joined Sony in 2006 and has since held a range of sales and business development roles. This past year, Allen was promoted into a global leadership role, aligning SPE’s Domestic and International businesses to drive growth across the globe, and played a key role in shaping SPE’s evolving premium window strategy, a major driver of studio and industry growth.

Michelle Thiele

SVP, Corporate Systems
Cineverse

Thiele is a senior technology leader with more than 17 years of experience in entertainment products, enterprise applications, and IT operations at Los Angeles-based Cineverse, the global streaming technology and entertainment company known for its extensive library of films, series and podcasts, as well as its proprietary streaming technology platform. Thiele is known for her problem-solving skills in addition to her vast knowledge of multiple operating, network and server systems. As SVP of Corporate Systems, Thiele leads large-scale technology initiatives that support key business functions including digital media, content management, finance and rights management. She specializes in bridging technical systems with cross-functional business needs. Thiele was promoted into her present position in July 2023 after serving as VP and, before that, Executive Director and Director. She joined Cineverse, which at the time was known as Cinedigm, in August 2008 as System Administrator, and was subsequently promoted to IT Manager.

Michele Edelman

EVP, Technology, and GM, Matchpoint
Cineverse

Edelman oversees Cineverse’s go-to-market strategy, including sales, marketing and day-to-day operations of Matchpoint, the company’s media supply chain platform. Edelman also drives the sales and marketing strategy for “cineSearch for Business,” Cineverse’s AI-powered content search and discovery platform. Edelman was appointed to the EVP post in August after serving for several months as a consultant to the Cineverse Technology Group. Edelman previously spent more than five years as Head of Growth at Premiere Digital, a global provider of distribution technology solutions. She helped grow the company into one of the primary media services and technology vendors in the distribution space and broaden its focus into all aspects of digital distribution, including AVOD, SVOD and TVOD. Earlier, Edelman spent more than 20 years at Warner Bros., where she pushed the company toward digital distribution even as the focus was on physical media. She later headed marketing and content strategy at media technology services provider Vubiquity.

Srividhya Srinivasan

Co-Founder and CTO
Amagi

Since co-founding the company more than 15 years ago, Srinivasan has been instrumental in transforming Amagi into a leading SaaS provider of cloud-managed live, linear and on-demand video infrastructure for broadcast and streaming TV. Under her leadership, Amagi — a tech unicorn — powers more than 7,000 channel deliveries, 500,000 hours of content, and 26 billion ad impressions, and reaches over 300 distributors worldwide. Working closely with engineering and product teams, she strives to ensure that Amagi’s portfolio of solutions remain at the technology frontier, giving customers, including 45% of the top 50 media and entertainment companies, a competitive edge in an ever-changing global video market. Srinivasan began her career as a software engineer at Texas Instruments. She spent most of her 24 years of professional experience as a technology entrepreneur. Before joining Amagi, she co-founded ImpulseSoft, a wireless audio technology company that was later acquired by SiRF.

Paulette Pantoja

CEO
Blu Digital Group
VP, Media Technology
TransPerfect Media

As founder and CEO of Blu Digital Group, Pantoja has transformed the company from a single-service Blu-ray Disc testing facility into a leading provider of digital media services and cloud-based workflow software, working with the world’s largest studios, streamers and content distributors. Under her leadership, Blu developed award-winning proprietary SaaS platforms — including BluConductor, BluQC and BluSpot — and expanded internationally through strategic acquisitions. Her vision for scalable, automated content distribution solutions has set new benchmarks for speed, quality and operational efficiency across the digital supply chain. In 2025 Blu joined the TransPerfect group, where Pantoja continues to lead as CEO of Blu while also serving in an expanded role as VP of Media Technology. Prior to founding Blu Digital Group in 2007, Pantoja worked at Ascent Media and Panasonic Hollywood Labs. Her honors include EY Entrepreneur of the Year and the DEG Hedy Lamarr Award for Innovation in Entertainment Technology.

Lauren Tempest

GM, Hulu, and EVP, DTC Content Partnerships
The Walt Disney Co.

Tempest is responsible for the Hulu business as well as global licensing oversight for Disney Entertainment’s direct-to-consumer services. Under her leadership, Hulu has become an increasingly popular streaming destination, with hits such as “Shogun” and “Only Murders in the Building.” Her next big task will be assisting in the merger of Hulu into the Disney+ app to create what Disney CEO Bob Iger calls a “unified app experience.” The merger is planned for 2026, with Hulu’s content and brand incorporated into Disney+ and its live-TV service migrated to Fubo. Prior to assuming her present position in 2023, Tempest was Hulu’s SVP of Content Partnerships, Acquisitions and Scheduling, overseeing Hulu’s library of content and helping establish a new strategic scheduling framework with Disney content brands. She also worked with the company’s third-party partners to acquire top SVOD titles, including “Schitt’s Creek.” Tempest joined Hulu in 2015 after six years in program acquisitions with NBCUniversal’s USA Network.

Susan Chun

EVP, Business and Legal Affairs — Content Distribution
Paramount

Chun oversees business and legal affairs for the worldwide distribution of Paramount’s entire portfolio of produced and acquired feature films and series across all media, including theatrical, home entertainment and content licensing (SVOD, AVOD, FAST, free TV, pay TV and basic cable). She also serves as the senior legal advisor to Paramount’s content distribution business and the supporting strategic planning, marketing and analytics groups. As Paramount’s legal head of distribution for over 10 years, Chun has been the lead negotiator for numerous key license agreements, and continues to drive innovative dealmaking. She also manages a large global team and enjoys a multi-faceted practice, which ranges from analyzing new business models to shaping monetization strategies. Prior to joining Paramount in 2008, Chun was in private practice for over a decade as a business litigator and represented various media companies in several high-profile matters.

Kate Nexon

President, Domestic TV and Digital Distribution
Lionsgate

Nexon oversees North American sales, strategy and planning for Lionsgate’s first-run film and television pipelines and more-than-20,000-title library, which includes programming the studio acquired from eOne. This includes the strategic distribution of content through the group’s domestic licensing, revenue-sharing and FAST pipelines in an increasingly complex market. Most recently, she helped orchestrate the transition of “The Hunting Wives” from Starz to Netflix in the U.S., where it launched in July and quickly became Netflix’s No. 1 show domestically. She also led negotiations on a multifaceted licensing deal with Amazon’s Prime Video for the global expansion of the epic series “The Chosen,” and shepherded Lionsgate’s multiyear theatrical output agreement with Prime. Nexon’s talent for identifying unique opportunities and securing major licensing deals continues to shape Lionsgate’s distribution across AVOD, SVOD and linear platforms. Nexon joined Lionsgate in 2009 as Manager of Home Entertainment and steadily advanced up the ranks. She was elevated into her present position in December 2023.

Katherine Pond

Group VP, Platform Content and Partnerships
Vizio

Pond heads Platform Content and Partnerships at Vizio, the TV manufacturer and connected-TV pioneer that is now owned by Walmart. She heads distribution, content acquisition, programming, platform partnerships and marketing, and has played a key role in getting Vizio to leverage opted-in platform data to gain insight into what consumers want to watch and make the right content choices for Vizio’s WatchFree+ FAST service. Since joining Vizio in 2012, Pond has struck deals across content distribution and acquisition, IP, advertising and data verticals with such heavyweights as Amazon, Apple, Disney, Google, Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, Sony and more. Pond also serves as a mentor at her alma mater and co-founded Vizio’s Ascend Women’s Network. She has received honors and awards including Stream TV Top Executive in Content Distribution Finalist, Media Play News’ The 40 Most Important People in Streaming and Fast Forward Award, and Concordia University Irvine’s 2020 Alumna of the Year for Professional Achievement.

Amy Jo Smith

President and CEO
DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group

Smith oversees the digital entertainment industry’s biggest trade group, which represents the world’s largest media and entertainment companies, consumer electronics manufacturers, platform providers and technology companies. A former White House communications advisor, Smith since 1997 has led the industry-funded association’s efforts to promote digital entertainment, from its beginning as a DVD advocacy group through its evolution into an association representing the entire direct-to-consumer supply chain. DEG’s current objectives include connecting content providers, device manufacturers, distribution platforms, retailers and service providers to help develop and drive revenue of DEG member products and services; providing members with knowledge and resources about emerging trends and technologies to prepare for further industry growth; supporting and driving marketing initiatives to increase awareness and encourage consumer adoption of emerging home entertainment formats and new distribution models; and implementing standards and best practices in the digital supply chain and finance/accounting areas to improve internal and external efficiencies for members.

Amy Eppolito

VP, Content Sales
Warner Bros. Discovery

Eppolito oversees the licensing of Warner Bros.’ feature films, TV series, animation and specials to linear and digital partners including HBO Max, Peacock and A+E Global Media. She collaborates with cross-functional teams including sales planning, finance, legal, research and marketing to maximize revenue for such top Warner IP as “The Big Bang Theory,” “Friends,” “The Closer,” “Supernatural” and the “Impractical Jokers” franchise. WBD’s content sales efforts extend to over 220 countries and territories, and are available in 50 languages. Eppolito was elevated into her present position in April 2024. Previously, she was Executive Director of Linear and Digital Sales for Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. She joined Warner in 2012 after more than five years at Viacom Media Networks, where she served in various content distribution roles and ultimately rose to Director of National Accounts. Earlier in her career, Eppolito was a sales service executive at Nickelodeon and an account executive at CBS/Paramount.

Preetha Rajamani

Head of Strategy and Business Development
Amazon MGM Studios

Rajamani in April was elevated to oversee Amazon MGM Studios’ combined Content Strategy teams, working across television, film and International Originals. Her purview also includes new business development deals and studios-related M&A opportunities. Rajamani joined the studio in 2021 to lead television strategy and has guided and facilitated decisions for the studio’s annual investment in its original television portfolio. For the past four years, she has developed several strategic frameworks for the studio. Notably, she has established a consistent strategic framework for greenlighting projects and evaluating each investment decision at scale, and created a framework for defining success at the title level across multiple genres and formats of content. Before joining Amazon, Rajamani spent four years at The Walt Disney Co., most recently as Senior Manager of Disney+ Content Strategy. She began her career in 2009 as an analyst at the Capital Group, a provider of investment solutions and services to financial professionals.

Danae Kokenos

Head of Technology Innovation
Amazon MGM Studios

A 20-year Amazon veteran, Kokenos oversees strategy around emerging technologies such as AI and how it can improve content creation from development through delivery and distribution. Her team also consults with outside teams whose projects have Amazon MGM Studios dependencies, bringing the correct SMEs, providing guidance, and identifying requirements — including working closely with PV product/tech teams to improve how customers discover and experience the studio’s content. Prior to assuming her present position in August 2024, Kokenos led strategy for the studio’s international original movies and series. Before that, she was responsible for content licensing across the United States, Latin America, Canada and Australia. Kokenos joined Amazon in 2005 as Content Acquisition Manager for its disc-on-demand business, which allowed customers to buy discs and simultaneously get a digital version for immediate streaming. Before that, she held operations, acquisitions and marketing positions for the Seattle Thunderbirds hockey team, Samuel Goldwyn Films and BMG Video.

Maria Ferreras

Global Head of Partnerships
Netflix

Ferreras oversees all partnerships for Netflix, a task that is becoming increasingly important as U.S. streamers seek out local partnerships for international expansion now that the domestic market is pretty much saturated. She was part of a Netflix team that earlier this year met with the CEO of Naver, Korea’s top internet provider, to discuss collaboration opportunities, and late last year struck a partnership deal with South Africa’s Telekom. Ferreras was appointed to the position in February 2021 after nearly four years as VP of Business Development for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Prior to joining Netflix, Ferreras worked at Google for 10 years as Director of Partnerships for YouTube for Southern Europe and emerging markets. She has also held leadership and senior management roles for Lycos, Orange and Telecom Italia. Ferreras was named one of the 100 most influential Latinos of the year by Bloomberg Línea in 2022.

Kelly Day

Head of International
Prime Video

Day oversees the Prime Video business outside of the United States. Her teams across Europe, Latin America and the Asia Pacific regions are driving the streamer’s growth as an entertainment destination for its customer base of more than 200 million. In April Day took on leadership of International Originals for Amazon MGM Studios, leading the teams producing movies and series in more than 20 countries, in addition to running Prime Video’s international SVOD, TVOD and Channels businesses. In 2024 Day also added Global Distribution of MGM Scripted Television and global leadership of MGM+ to her duties. Overseeing the team delivering Prime Video in over 200 countries and territories, Day drives content and marketing strategies, greenlight decisions, and business performance for Prime Video and MGM+. Day joined Amazon in January 2022 as VP and Head of International for Prime Video. Before that, she held various roles at ViacomCBS, Discovery, AwesomenessTV and AOL.

Kristin Dolan

CEO
AMC Networks

Dolan oversees a portfolio of brands including streaming services AMC+, Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now, ALLBLK and HIDIVE; cable networks AMC, BBC America, IFC, SundanceTV and We TV; film distribution labels Independent Film Co. and RLJE Films; AMC Studios, the company’s in-house studio, production and distribution operation; and AMC Networks International. A seasoned entertainment executive with more than 30 years of experience, Dolan was appointed CEO in February 2023, but had served on the company’s board of directors since 2011. Prior to taking the reins at AMC, Dolan was CEO of 605, the audience measurement and data analytics firm she founded in 2016. Prior to founding 605, Dolan spent 16 years in various operating roles at Cablevision Systems Corp., the country’s sixth-largest MVPD, including a stint as COO. Dolan was a key member of the leadership team that oversaw Cablevision’s 2016 sale to Altice USA for $17.7 billion.

Julie Dansker

EVP, Global Licensing, TVOD and International Distribution
Radial Entertainment

Dansker is a key executive at Radial Entertainment, the newly formed global entertainment company operating the FilmRise and Shout! Studios brands. She is a seasoned entertainment executive with longstanding relationships with esteemed content creators, content buyers, studios, networks, and digital and streaming platforms. Prior to Radial Entertainment’s July 2025 formation, she served as SVP of Streaming and Content Strategy at Shout! Studios. In that capacity, she oversaw the licensing and streaming sales team. In her new role, Dansker drives the monetization for all film and series content across global SVOD and AVOD channel partners and broadcasters, executing licensing deals, managing portfolios of AVOD channel partners, and pitching and launching FAST channels. Utilizing data-driven analytics, her team monitors performance and optimizes engagement across partners. Dansker also collaborates with the acquisitions team to identify and acquire elevated new releases and is on the Shout! Studios’ originals team, developing original content across television, feature films and podcasts.

Jonitha Keymoore

SVP, Content Acquisitions
Radial Entertainment

Keymoore joined Radial Entertainment when the company was formed in July through the merger of FilmRise and Shout! Studios. She previously had been Head of Content at FilmRise, where she spearheaded the strategy and execution of acquiring content for multiple platforms and territories. Keymoore recently secured worldwide digital media rights to a library of content from Buzzfeed Inc., including the popular celebrity series “Hot Ones,” as well as closed deals for sci-fi series “Z Nation,” the classic western “Death Valley Days,” and the popular children’s series “The Wiggles.” Keymoore has more than 17 years of experience in negotiating and closing multi-million-dollar deals with major studios and independent producers, such as Sony, Disney, Fox, CBS, Warner Bros., NBCU, MGM and more. She joined FilmRise in early 2021 as Senior Director of Global Acquisitions. Before that she served as Senior Director of Content Acquisitions at Paramount, where she negotiated deal terms for acquired content across cable and digital networks.

Kim Kelleher

Chief Commercial Officer
AMC Networks

Kelleher oversees AMCN’s advertising sales, distribution and content licensing efforts, driving partnerships across linear, streaming, FAST and CTV to ensure the company’s programming is available to audiences everywhere. From the launch of The AMC Collection on Netflix and unique bundles and content exchanges with MGM+, Discovery+, Starz and more, to bringing AMC+ to Charter video subscribers, significant growth in FAST, and leadership in advanced advertising, Kelleher continues to transform AMC’s distribution and monetization efforts. Kelleher was promoted into her present position in September 2022 after three years as President of Commercial Revenue and Partnerships. Kelleher’s career in media, marketing and advertising spans two decades. Prior to joining AMC Networks, she was the Chief Business Officer of GQ, GQ Style, Golf Digest, Golf World, Pitchfork and the Wired Media Group, which includes Wired and Ars Technica. Prior to that, she was Chief Business Officer of Allure, Brides, Glamour, Self and Teen Vogue, and the Chief Revenue Officer of the Wired Media Group.

Kim Granito

Chief Marketing Officer
AMC Networks

Granito oversees marketing, media and brand strategy as well as creative, digital and social across AMC Networks’ entire portfolio of brands including AMC+, AMC, We TV, Acorn TV, Shudder and more — as well as top entertainment franchises and series including the “Walking Dead” Universe, “Anne Rice Immortal” Universe and “Dark Winds,” among others. Granito also oversees integrated marketing and AMCN’s Content Room, its award-winning branded-entertainment studio. Granito’s career in entertainment marketing spans over two decades. Prior to assuming her present position in April 2023, she spent two years as EVP of Content Room and Marketing. Granito joined AMC in 2011 and worked for seven years at the company’s IFC network, where she drove consumer and integrated marketing campaigns for hit series including “Portlandia” and “Documentary Now!” and helped establish IFC’s positioning in the advertiser marketplace. Earlier in her career Granito held several consumer marketing, promotions and strategic marketing roles at MTV Networks and NBCUniversal.

Agapy Kapouranis

President, International Television and Digital Distribution
Lionsgate

Kapouranis leads international sales, distribution, acquisitions and marketing for Lionsgate’s global distribution business, licensing feature films, series, Starz original series and over 20,000 film and TV library titles to more than 250 buyers around the world. Kapouranis has led a number of high-profile deals, including the global syndication of “Mad Men” to Amazon’s Prime Video, as well as licensing “Schitt’s Creek” to Netflix, and a large package of premium films and television series to support the European relaunch of MGM+. She also played a key role in integrating eOne following Lionsgate’s acquisition of the global content platform. Most recently, Kapouranis spearheaded international sales of the breakout hit “The Hunting Wives” to nearly 15 territories around the world. Kapouranis was promoted into her present position in October 2018, after serving for two years as EVP of Global Subscription Video-on-Demand. Kapouranis joined Lionsgate in May 2011 from MGM Studios.

Jennifer Caprow

SVP, Domestic Sales Strategy and Planning
Lionsgate

Since joining Lionsgate in 2011 as a sales planning coordinator in the TV Distribution Group, Caprow has become an integral member of the company’s U.S. distribution executive team. She oversees the placement of Lionsgate’s vast film and TV catalog, which includes both new releases and library product, via linear and digital platforms. One of her standout accomplishments was playing a significant role in securing the recent Starz and Amazon film output deals by running countless analyses and ultimately closing two major deals with the broader team. Caprow joined Lionsgate fresh from college and rapidly rose up the ranks, becoming Manager in 2012, Director in 2013, Executive Director in 2017, and VP in 2019. She was promoted into her present position in April 2022. That same year, Caprow was named to Media Play News’ 40 Under 40, which honors rising stars and promising young executives in the digital entertainment industry.

Lauren LeMieux

SVP, Development
Lionsgate Alternative Television

LeMieux is a key executive in the alternative television division Lionsgate established in January 2024 after completing its $375 million acquisition of eOne. The division combined Lionsgate-owned Pilgrim Media Group with eOne’s U.S. and U.K. non-scripted group, as well as Blackfin, Renegade and Daisybeck Studios. LeMieux, who previously had been one of Pilgrim’s top development executives, led the integration of development teams from Pilgrim Media Group, Renegade 83 and eOne, and is currently managing multiple paid development deals with networks and marquee talent. Over the last year, she has overseen the development of nearly 60 projects, including series such as “Lost U-Boats of WWII” for the History Channel, and “Harpoon Hunters” and “Dancing With Sharks” for Discovery. Most recently, LeMieux was responsible for shepherding Lionsgate Alternative Television’s first award show, “Las Culturistas Culture Awards,” from development through post-production for Bravo and Peacock, where it soared to No. 1.

Naivasha Dean

SVP, Content Programming and Insights
Tubi

Dean shapes the content strategy at Tubi — the free, ad-supported streaming service with an expansive library of movies and TV shows, including live-TV channels — through a blend of creative vision and data-driven decision-making. Dean is known for her ability to guide multi-platform digital product features and strategies from ideation through execution. At Tubi, which is owned by Fox Corp., she works across content, technology and marketing to enhance discovery and the user experience. Dean joined Tubi in March 2025 after nearly three years as Head of Content Management at Apple Music. Before that, she was VP of Editorial and On-Channel Marketing at HBO Max. Earlier in her career, Dean was Director of Editorial Strategy at Redbox On Demand, the disc-rental kiosk company’s ambitious endeavor to move into the digital world. She also spent more than three years at Hulu as Associate Producer and then Editor.

Laura Florence

SVP, Global Channels
Fremantle

With more than 20 years’ experience in the media industry, Florence is a seasoned leader and strategist in direct-to-consumer distribution. As SVP of Global Channels at Fremantle, a global entertainment company that is part of the Bertelsmann-owned RTL Group, Florence oversees the development and execution of the global strategy across a portfolio of linear and FAST channels and ad-supported content, reaching more than 200 million viewers worldwide. With a broad range of experience including leading a streaming service platform, managing a distribution company, and representing over 300 content partners, Florence continues to innovate in digital distribution by driving cross-functional leadership across content acquisition, finance, merchandising, partnerships, programming, marketing, technology and operations as the digital marketplace evolves. Prior to joining Fremantle in July 2023, she was SVP and GM of Digital for Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, and held various acquisitions and partnership roles at Redbox and sales positions at Gravitas Ventures.

Gita Rebbapragada

Chief Operating Officer
Crunchyroll

Rebbapragada leads the global marketing, communications, brand strategy, audience development, creative services and experiential teams at Crunchyroll, the anime-focused streaming service owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment. She oversees every fan-facing touchpoint and has been instrumental in positioning anime as a global phenomenon, with Crunchyroll as the cultural curator at the center. She also oversees localization and dubbing operations, which are critical to anime’s global accessibility and fan loyalty. Under her leadership, Crunchyroll surpassed 17 million paid subscribers in 2025, representing more than 30% year-over-year growth. Rebbapragada is also responsible for Crunchyroll’s broader corporate strategy and planning, business and content operations, localization and dubbing, curation and programming, and enterprise technology. Rebbapragada joined what was then Funimation in February 2018 as SVP of Marketing and assumed her present position in September 2023. Previously, Rebbapragada held a number of executive roles at high-growth venture-backed start-ups including TechStyle Fashion Group and Zipcar.

Meri Hassouni

Chief Revenue Officer
Giant Worldwide

Hassouni leads strategy and client partnerships for Giant Worldwide, a leading global digital media provider. She leads revenue and marketing strategy, oversees key client relationships, and works closely with the executive team to support Giant’s growth in an ever-changing digital media landscape. Hassouni has played an integral role in Giant’s evolution over the past 20 years from its start as a boutique digital facility to an international operation with offices in Los Angeles, New York and Warsaw. With deep industry relationships and a sharp understanding of client needs, she has been instrumental in expanding Giant’s core offerings, helping to grow the business beyond digital deliveries and physical disc authoring to an end-to-end service provider whose offerings include master QC, localization and app testing. Hassouni also serves as co-Chair of DEG’s Canon Club, sits on the DEG Board in an advisory role, and is a voting member for the Hedy Lamarr Awards.

Briana Larsen

VP, Content Strategy and Business Development
Xperi

Larsen leads global partnerships across smart TVs, pay-TV platforms, and in-car entertainment at Xperi, the San Jose, Calif.-based technology company that develops software for consumer electronic devices, set-top boxes and connected cars. A Stanford graduate and Pepperdine-trained lawyer, she oversees contract negotiation and partnership management for subscription, ad-supported, transactional and vMVPD streaming services globally. This includes the integration of these services across Xperi’s product lines for consumers and pay-TV operators worldwide. She also manages Tier 1 partnerships with major streaming services including Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max and YouTube. Prior to the 2020 Xperi merger, Larsen led business development for TiVo’s product partnerships including streaming services, platform partners, OEMs, and technology vendors. Earlier in her career, she worked at WME Entertainment and practiced law in Menlo Park, Calif., before joining the legal team at Fanhattan, which TiVo acquired in 2014.

Shraddha Pednekar

Chief Experience Officer
ViewLift

Pednekar hopes to reshape the digital sports and entertainment landscape through her leadership at ViewLift, a provider of digital solutions for content owners. Under her direction, ViewLift has powered transformative streaming platforms for 16 pro teams, six regional sports networks, LIV Golf and the NHL, as well as media giants such as NBC and TEGNA. Her work has introduced game-changing features such as real-time betting, multi-view streaming and AI-powered fan support. Pednekar blends technical acumen with commercial strategy, transforming how live sports are distributed and monetized. Pednekar was promoted into her present position at ViewLift in May 2022, seven years after she joined the company as Director of Client Onboarding. Earlier in her career, she was a project manager at SnagFilms, and a consultant and analyst at Tata Consultancy Services, working on the Avid Budget Group account. She began her career in 2006 as an assistant system engineer at Tata in Mumbai.

Sarah Aubrey

Head of Originals
HBO Max

Aubrey has overseen original content at HBO Max since its May 2020 launch, and is one of the last of the streamer’s original senior executives who is still onboard, having weathered numerous name changes as well as parent company WarnerMedia’s merger-fueled transformation into Warner Bros. Discovery. She’s known for exploiting WBD’s IP into series and spinoffs, scoring big with such series as “The Penguin” (The Batman) and “Peacemaker” (The Suicide Squad). Expectations are also running high for a new series based on the “Harry Potter” franchise, expected to debut in 2027. Filming began in July. Prior to joining HBO Max, Aubrey was EVP of original Programming for TNT, where she played an integral role in the network’s evolution into a premier destination for original dramas. Before joining TNT, Aubrey was a prolific television and film producer, responsible for such projects as “Friday Night Lights,” “The Leftovers,” Battleship and Bad Santa. She began her career as an entertainment lawyer.

Hollie Choi

President and CEO
OTT.X

The new leader of the streaming trade association doubles as Managing Director of the Entertainment ID Registry (EIDR), a universal identification system for audio and video content that provides unique identifiers for movies, shows and other audiovisual works. Since her appointment as President and CEO of OTT.X in January, Choi has been reshaping the organization to bring together established companies, independent services, and emerging players to address shared challenges and unlock new opportunities. Through the recent merger with the Independent Streaming Alliance and expanded programming, OTT.X has already made great strides in becoming even more relevant. At EIDR, where she’s been for 15 years, Choi oversees the global registry that underpins transparency, trust and interoperability in content metadata. Prior to joining EIDR, Choi was an Executive Director at The Walt Disney Co. and 20th Century Fox, responsible for intellectual property and metadata management, including standard EIDR registration for all content.