Sandra Stern
Lionsgate Television Group Vice Chairman Sandra Stern Stepping Down in March
February 19, 2026
Sandra Stern, vice chairman of the Lionsgate Television Group and a 23-year veteran of the studio, has decided to leave her position at the end of March, she announced Feb. 19. She will continue her relationship with the Lionsgate as a long-term consultant to the TV group.
As the highest-ranking female executive at Lionsgate, Stern has been instrumental in crafting the unique and innovative business models that helped to grow Lionsgate’s television business from its indie roots into one of the leading independent television organizations in the world, delivering more than 80 scripted and unscripted series to dozens of streaming, broadcast, cable, FAST and digital media platforms.
During her tenure, her business and strategic acumen, combined with her relationships with top platform and creative partners, have enabled her to help shepherd series such as “Mad Men,” “Weeds,” “Nurse Jackie,” “Nashville” and “Orange Is the New Black,” one of the first original series for Netflix.
Stern has been a driving force in the Television Group’s recent momentum, highlighted by last year’s launch of “The Studio” (Apple TV), which won a record 13 Emmys including Best Comedy, the breakout hit “The Hunting Wives,” which debuted near the top of Netflix’s global charts, the hit drama “The Rainmaker” (USA Network), and the recent renewals of popular long-running series “Ghosts” (CBS) and “The Rookie” (ABC). Lionsgate Television has secured renewals for 12 of its 13 current scripted series.
“Sandra has been my friend, partner and protégé for the past 40 years,” CEO Jon Feltheimer said in a statement. “She is an amazing strategist with unparalleled relationships with our partners, and few people understand our business as well as she does. Sandra has been a pillar of our studio’s growth and success for 23 years. Whatever she chooses for the next phase of her career, she will remain a valued and cherished member of our Lionsgate family.”
Stern said she valued her relationship with Feltheimer, Lionsgate Television Group chair and chief creative officer Kevin Beggs, and other staff members.
“I know that I am leaving our television group in an incredibly strong position, with a great slate of series, a robust creative pipeline and an exceptional team of executives to move them forward, and I am excited to explore other passions and embark on new adventures beyond the world of television,” Stern said.
Stern played a key role in the acquisition and successful integration of eOne, adding thousands of titles to the Lionsgate library, diversifying its television slate and expanding its reach into procedurals. She also helped shepherd the studio’s collaboration with leading talent management and production company 3 Arts Entertainment, with which it partnered on “The Hunting Wives,” and its minority investment in the U.K.-based talent management company 42, where she sits on the board of directors.
A graduate and former Alumnus of the Year of the UCLA Law School, Stern is a founding member of the school’s LEAD program and serves on the Board of the Law School’s Ziffren Center, where she has also taught for the past eight years.
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