Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

ANN SARNOFF NAMED CHAIR AND CEO OF WARNER BROS.

24/06/2019

Proven Media, Business and Studio Executive Brings a Wide Range of Experience to the Role

June 24, 2019

New York - WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey today announced the appointment of Ann Sarnoff as the new Chair and CEO of Warner Bros. Sarnoff, who is currently President, BBC Studios Americas (formerly BBC Worldwide Americas), brings more than thirty years of diversified business and media experience to the role of overseeing worldwide operations at Warner Bros. including the production, marketing and distribution of film, television and interactive entertainment.

I am delighted Ann is joining the WarnerMedia team and excited to work side by side with such a talented and accomplished individual. She brings a consistent and proven track record of innovation, creativity and business results to lead an incredibly successful studio to its next chapter of growth, said Stankey. Ann has shown the ability to innovate and grow revenues and has embraced the evolution taking place in our industry. I am confident she will be a great cultural fit for WarnerMedia and that our employees will embrace her leadership, enthusiasm and passion for our business.

Sarnoff comes to Warner Bros. with an established track record spanning an array of prominent media and entertainment businesses from Viacom to the NBA to Dow Jones to the BBC. Her vast knowledge from this range of experience puts the company in the hands of a seasoned, successful executive that is keenly aware of the continuous need to innovate. A widely admired leader, she has full appreciation and respect for the creative process and has worked in close collaboration with talent and business partners for many years to develop effective engagement strategies for global audiences.

It is a privilege to join a studio with such a storied history. Warner Bros. has been an industry leader for decades and is known for creating many of the most iconic film, television and gaming properties, said Sarnoff. I accept this position excited by the opportunity to work with the most accomplished executives and teams in media, and confident about carrying this incredible heritage forward with them.

As President of BBC Studios Americas, Sarnoff has been responsible for driving growth and profit across the company's diversified business division in the U.S., Canada and Latin America. She oversaw L.A. Productions, linear and digital program sales and co-productions, home entertainment, and licensing. She also led efforts to amplify BBC Studios' global brands Doctor Who, Top Gear, and the natural history brand BBC Earth. As Board Chair of BritBox Sarnoff has guided the development and growth of the direct-to-consumer service which offers U.S. and Canadian customers the largest collection of British television programming.

Ann's contribution to BBC Studios has been immense, said Tim Davie, CEO BBC Studios. She has grown our core business as well as driving significant innovation, including the successful creation of BritBox, the growth of BBC America alongside our partner AMCN, the launch of new channels like BBC Earth in Canada, and major new content and production deals. We will miss her generosity and her spirit of collaboration, and we wish her great success at Warner Bros.

During a leadership transition, Warner Bros. was managed by an interim team of leaders made up of Toby Emmerich, Chairman, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, Peter Roth, President and Chief Content Officer, Warner Bros. Television Group and Kim Williams, EVP & CFO, Warner Bros.

I want to thank Toby, Peter and Kim for stepping up during this transition and making sure Warner Bros. didn't miss a beat. Their commitment to delivering operationally and creatively is evident in our results over the last several months. It's clear that Ann becomes part of a team that is second-to-none, Stankey added.

Sarnoff will be based in Los Angeles and will officially join the company later this summer.

Additional biographical information:

Alongside her role at BBC Studios Americas, Sarnoff also served as head of BBC Worldwide's Global Production Network from 2016-2018 and was charged with developing the strategy for and optimizing the company's global production operations. From 2010, when she joined the company, to 2015, Sarnoff was COO, BBC Worldwide North America, where she was responsible for most major revenue streams for the company and led cross-business franchise development for global brands, resulting in significant revenue gains. Sarnoff led the team that increased distribution of BBC America across the country to 80 million subscribers and managed the transition of digital program sales to where they exceeded linear program sales.

Prior to joining BBC Worldwide, Sarnoff was President of Dow Jones Ventures and Senior Vice President of Strategy. In this role, she was responsible for leveraging the assets of Dow Jones to create new businesses focusing on digital and B-to-C markets, and for overseeing corporate strategy and business development.

During her career, Sarnoff also served as COO for the Women's National Basketball Association, where she was recruited by and sat on the executive team of NBA Commissioner David Stern. In addition to running the league's business operations and overseeing player personnel and programs, Sarnoff redefined the WNBA brand, secured new sponsorships, and instituted innovative marketing campaigns for the league.

Sarnoff has also worked with some of the best-known brands in television while at Viacom from 1993-2003. As Nickelodeon's Executive Vice President for Consumer Products and Business Development, she led the team that launched the channel Noggin, and then pioneered a franchise-building approach to properties like Rugrats and Blue's Clues, growing Nickelodeon consumer products into a multi-billion-dollar
LINK: http://origin-www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/2019/06/24/an...
See more stories from timewarner

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

07/10/2026

Dalet Flex LTS Delivers Smarter Media Operations from Ingest to Distribution

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...

06/09/2026

Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Germany with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos

June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...

18/08/2026

SportStream 2026 Virtual Event Set for September 15-17

SportStream 2026, a free three-day virtual event, will take place September 15-17. One registration provides access to all three days of live programming and on...

18/08/2026

IBC 2026: BeckTV to Debut BeckFlow Documentation Platform

BeckTV will introduce BeckFlow to the European market at IBC2026, demonstrated on the Providius stand (10.F53). BeckFlow is a web-based schematic documentation...

18/08/2026

IBC 2026: Boland Communications to Introduce ST 2110 Option for 4K Monitors

Boland Communications will introduce a SMPTE ST 2110 input option for its 4K monitors at IBC2026, along with a new 55-inch super-narrow bezel display for video ...

18/08/2026

Seattle Seahawks Integrate Dolby OptiView with Dolby Vision for Fan Streaming

Dolby Laboratories and the Seattle Seahawks have announced a partnership integrating Dolby OptiView into the Seahawks' live streaming coverage, making the S...

18/08/2026

Insights from BMG's Graham Taylor on the Role of a Sports Producer in Live Broadcast Production

For BMG Executive Producer of Sports Production, Graham Taylor, producing live s...

18/08/2026

TMRW Sports Names Rufus Hack as President of Golf

TMRW Sports has appointed Rufus Hack as President of Golf, a newly created role in which he will lead the company's golf businesses including TGL presented ...

18/08/2026

SMT To Deliver Race Technology for Freedom 250 IndyCar Broadcast

SMT will provide race technology for FOX Sports' coverage of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. on August 23, when the NTT INDYCAR SERIES races ...

18/08/2026

HMA's Creator Collective Pairs Digital Creators, Beat Writers in New Model for Local-Sports Coverage

The live, YouTube-native roundtables combine fan voices, credentialed reporters,...

18/08/2026

Behind The Mic: FOX Sports Shares Broadcast Lineup for 2026 NFL Season and College Football Season

Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...

18/08/2026

Miami Heats Ed Filomia on Rebuilding Kaseya Centers Video Infrastructure and 29 Years With the Heat

The industry legend sounds off on replacing the Heat's iconic Medusa score...

18/08/2026

Bill Rasmussen, ESPN Founder and Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer, Dies at 93

William F. Rasmussen, the sports fan-turned broadcaster and entrepreneur whose out-of-the-box idea of a 24-hour cable sports network, ESPN, changed forever the ...

18/08/2026

DAZN Completes Acquisition of ViewLift

DAZN Group has completed its acquisition of ViewLift, a provider of streaming and digital solutions for sports content owners. The acquisition was first announc...

18/08/2026

American Association of Professional Baseball Adds SI TV as Broadcast Partner

The American Association of Professional Baseball (AAPB) has added SI TV, Sports Illustrated's 24/7 streaming channel, as a broadcast partner for the remain...

18/08/2026

Esports Foundation Postpones Inaugural Esports Nations Cup to November 2027

The Esports Foundation has announced that the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), originally scheduled for November 2026 in Riyadh, will be postponed to Novemb...

18/08/2026

Diversified Launches Global Managed Services Practice

Diversified has announced a new Global Managed Services Practice, consolidating the company's managed services capabilities into one organization. Rob Mello...

18/08/2026

Appear Completes REMI Proof of Concept with Thoroughbred Racing Productions

Appear has completed a proof of concept with Thoroughbred Racing Productions (TRP), demonstrating multi-camera remote live production over bonded 5G cellular an...

18/08/2026

IBC 2026: Riedel Implements Live Production Infrastructure at Edith Cowan University

Riedel Communications has announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, ...

18/08/2026

Panoramic from Panorama Labs

Company launch with stereo-imaging tool Panoramic is the debut release from Panorama Labs, a new company formed by mastering engineer Nicholas Di Lorenzo. C...

18/08/2026

Focusrite extend Control 2 support

Control software now available for older interfaces Focusrite have just announced the launch of an update that extends Control 2 software support their Scar...

18/08/2026

Call for the 20th Annual South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs20) Jury

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...

18/08/2026

Corridor Television Pays $27,000 for Violating FCCs EAS Rules

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

18/08/2026

Disney's ABC Files First Amendment Lawsuit Against the FCC

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

18/08/2026

Lightware Integrates with SpectralBot to Accelerate AV Tr...

Lightware announces an integration with SpectralBot that helps system integrators and AV operators troubleshoot faster using augmented reality (AR), AI-assisted...

18/08/2026

Command Frame for After Effects

Command Frame for After Effects Scott Black August 18, 2026 0 Comments Free download, demonstrations, hands-on tests, and creator resources Want to t...

18/08/2026

Dot Group to show how cutting carbon cuts cost - live at...

At Stand 14.A57, the data company will demonstrate GreenDot and IBM Aspera together, giving media and entertainment businesses real-time visibility of what thei...

18/08/2026

Blue Lucy launches Connected Value Audit

New tool provides a robust audit of operational workflows, calculating the tangible value each delivers today, and informing business decisions for tomorrow. W...

18/08/2026

Media Utilities transitions to Media Utilities - a DigiNe...

Media Utilities is integrating its activities into DigiNet and will maintain a recognisable presence in the market under the name: Media Utilities, a DigiNet br...

18/08/2026

Appear demonstrates broadcast-grade REMI production over...

Proof of Concept validates reliable multi-camera live production from remote racecourses without fixed network infrastructure Appear ASA (Appear, OSE:APR), a g...

18/08/2026

Stingr brings frictionless second-screen interaction to I...

Stingr, a new venture from the founders of Hornets Tech, is bringing its second-screen interaction platform to IBC2026. The second screen has never really wor...

18/08/2026

Hiltron to Promote its Latest Generation Satellite Commun...

Long-established satellite equipment manufacturer and systems integrator Hiltron Communications will promote its new HACUX-IDU2 antenna control unit touchscreen...

18/08/2026

EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS Launch Combined Nuvex System

EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS Launch Combined Nuvex System Brie Clayton August 17, 2026 0 Comments Integrated platform melds media asset management, pla...

18/08/2026

The United Stand Scales Live Fan Show with Blackmagic Design Workflow

The United Stand Scales Live Fan Show with Blackmagic Design Workflow Brie Clayton August 17, 2026 0 Comments ATEM Constellation 8K and HyperDeck Stud...

18/08/2026

Twin Cities PBS to Become Minnesota PBS

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

18/08/2026

MPA, ByteDance Reach AI Copyright Protection Deal

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

18/08/2026

DirecTV to Launch Curated Multiview for Live Sports

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

18/08/2026

Sinclair Taps Carol Kellum to Head Nebraska Stations

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

18/08/2026

Corridor Television Pays $27,000 for Violations of FCCs EAS Rules

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

18/08/2026

Triveni Digital Accelerates TV 3 0 Transition in Brazil W...

Triveni Digital Now Offers a Joint Solution With MediaKind and a Lab System Bundle Supporting ISDB-Tb and TV 3.0 Broadcast Services Triveni Digital, a trusted ...

18/08/2026

BeckTV Debuts BeckFlow at IBC and Showcases Expertise for...

At IBC2026, BeckTV, a premier systems integrator for the broadcast industry, will introduce BeckFlow to the European market. BeckFlow is the first web-based sch...

18/08/2026

PTZOptics Launches Rise 4K Bringing Ultra HD Quality and...

New flagship PTZ camera combines cinematic 4K imaging, professional broadcast connectivity and the complete Horizon intelligent video experience for productions...

18/08/2026

VisualOn IBC Show Preview - AI-Powered CAE Advanced Playb...

At IBC2026, VisualOn will demonstrate how video service providers can slash bandwidth costs, maximize ad revenue, and deploy premium interactive features withou...

18/08/2026

Paying It Forward: Greg Tabor on Giving Back to the Next Generation

The relationships built during graduate school often continue to shape careers long after a degree is earned, creating a community of scientists who learn from ...

18/08/2026

Sky Sports and The Fast and the Curious announce new partnership

Tuesday 18 August 2026 Sky Sports and The Fast and the Curious announce new partnership Sky Sports and The Fast and the Curious have announced a new long-term...

18/08/2026

Riedel Brings Professional Live Production Into the Classrooms of ECU

Wuppertal August 18, 2026 Riedel Brings Professional Live Production Into the Classrooms of ECURiedel Communications today announced that Edith Cowan Universi...

18/08/2026

The Biggest AI Opportunity Isn't in Engineering. It's in Everyone Else.

In my previous article, The AI Shift Feels Familiar. Our Response Should Be Different., I argued that the greatest challenge organizations face is no longer the...

18/08/2026

Apple announces changes for apps in the European Union - UPDATE - Posted on 18 August 2026

Apple today announced changes to its business terms for apps in the European Uni...

18/08/2026

RT TO AIR NEW DOCUMENTARY THAT LIFTS THE LID ON THE HEALY RAE DYNASTY

THE HEALY RAES: BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS AIRS WEDNESDAY AUGUST 19 ON RT ONE AT 9:35PM A new documentary The Healy-Raes: Blood, Sweat & Tears airs on RT One and ...