Ann Sarnoff

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ann Sarnoff
Born
Ann Marie Misiaszek

1961 (age 62–63)
Wilbraham, Massachusetts, US
EducationGeorgetown University (BS)
Harvard University (MBA)
OccupationBusiness executive
Years active1993–present
TitleFormer chairwoman and CEO of Warner Bros., founder of VH1 Classic and TV Land
Spouse
Richard Sarnoff
(m. 1990)
Children2

Ann Marie Sarnoff (née Misiaszek; born c. 1961)[1] is an American television executive.[2] She became the chairwoman and CEO of Warner Bros. in the summer of 2019.[3] Sarnoff was the first woman to hold the position at the company.[4]

Early life and education[edit]

Sarnoff was born in Massachusetts. She is a 1979 graduate of Minnechaug Regional High School in Wilbraham, Massachusetts.[5][6]

In 1983, Sarnoff received a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from McDonough School of Business from Georgetown University.[7][8] In 1987, Sarnoff received a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School.[9][10]

Career[edit]

Sarnoff started out as a strategic consultant at Marakon Associates.[11]

From 1993 to 2003, Sarnoff worked at Viacom. Her first job at Viacom was in the corporate development department.[12] After leaving corporate, Sarnoff was the head of Nickelodeon consumer products and business development during Geraldine Laybourne's leadership of the company.[13] In 1999, while working at Nickelodeon, Sarnoff was part of a team that created the TV channel Noggin, a joint venture between Nickelodeon and Sesame Workshop. Sarnoff also helped create the television channel TV Land, which started off as Nick at Nite's TV Land in 1996.[14] Two shows she promoted were Rugrats and Blue's Clues. Sarnoff served as executive vice-president of business strategy and program enterprises at VH1.[15]

In 2001, she became chief operating officer of VH1 and Country Music Television, with the task of integrating the two channels.[10][16] During her time at VH1, Sarnoff launched the TV channel, VH1 Classic.[17]

In February 2004, Sarnoff was chief operating officer of the Women's National Basketball Association.[7][11]

In 2006, Sarnoff joined Dow Jones Ventures as president and senior vice president of strategy, a position she held for four years.[18][19] In this position, she ran the executive conference business for The Wall Street Journal.[20][21]

From 2010 to 2015, Sarnoff was chief operating officer of BBC Worldwide North America, where she worked with Herb Scannell, who she had worked with at Nickelodeon.[22] In August 2015, Sarnoff became president of BBC Studios Americas, formerly known as BBC Worldwide Americas.[8] In 2015, she launched the subscription TV channel, BBC Earth, and promoted shows like Doctor Who, Top Gear, Dancing with the Stars, Sherlock, Orphan Black, and Killing Eve.[23] From 2016 to 2018, Sarnoff was head of BBC Worldwide's Global Production Network.[9] In 2017, she launched Britbox, a streaming service for North America.[24][25]

In the summer of 2019, Sarnoff became the first woman CEO of Warner Bros, a subsidiary of WarnerMedia. Sarnoff succeeded Kevin Tsujihara and reported to John Stankey.[2] Toby Emmerich, the head of Warner Bros. Pictures; Peter Roth, who is the head of the Warner Bros. television group; and Kim Williams, executive VP and chief financial officer of Warner Bros. who oversaw Otter Media, reported to Sarnoff in her position as head of Warner Bros.[26][27] On April 8, 2022, she stepped down from her role upon the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc.[28][29]

Personal life[edit]

In 1990, Sarnoff married Richard Sarnoff, a former media executive who works in private equity.[1][10][30] They live in New York City and have two children.[7][9][13] She relocated to Los Angeles for her position at Warner Bros.[3]

Sarnoff's husband's great uncle, David Sarnoff, was the long-time chairman of RCA, a pioneer of American television and radio, and was known as "The General" or "General Sarnoff".[31] He is credited with founding NBC in 1926 and RKO Radio Pictures in 1928.[2]

Boards and memberships[edit]

Honors[edit]

Works and publications[edit]

  • Misiaszek Sarnoff, Ann (2006). "I Do Know How She Does It". In Morgan Steiner, Leslie (ed.). Mommy Wars: Stay-at-Home and Career Moms Face Off on Their Choices, Their Lives, Their Families. New York: Random House. ISBN 978-1-588-36598-9. OCLC 430501644.
  • Pham, Tiffany; Sarnoff, Ann (2018). "Crush It In Corporate Life". You Are a Mogul: How to Do the Impossible, Do It Yourself, and Do It Now. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-501-19187-9. OCLC 1050872266.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Ann Marie Misiaszek; New York, New York City Marriage Licenses Index, 1950-1995". New York, New York City Marriage Licenses Index, 1950-1995. FamilySearch. 1990.
  2. ^ a b c Barnes, Brooks (24 June 2019). "Ann Sarnoff, a Hollywood Outsider, Will Lead Warner Bros. Studio". The New York Times.
  3. ^ a b Faughnder, Ryan (24 June 2019). "Warner Bros. is getting its first female CEO, BBC's Ann Sarnoff". Los Angeles Times.
  4. ^ Jarvey, Natalie; Hayden, Erik (24 June 2019). "Ann Sarnoff Named Warner Bros. CEO in Surprise Pick". The Hollywood Reporter.
  5. ^ "Ann (Misiaszek) Sarnoff of Wilbraham named the new CEO at Warner Brothers studios". masslive. June 26, 2019.
  6. ^ Keegan, Rebecca (24 June 2019). "How Warner Bros.' First Female CEO Ann Sarnoff Says She'll Navigate "Shape-Shifting" Studio Future". The Hollywood Reporter.
  7. ^ a b c "WNBA Chief Operating Officer: Ann Sarnoff". Women's National Basketball Association. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  8. ^ a b "WF 2018 Speakers: Ann Sarnoff". Georgetown University Women's Forum. 21 March 2018. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  9. ^ a b c Cocozza, Keith; Cusson, Jeff (24 June 2019). "Ann Sarnoff Named Chair and CEO of Warner Bros" (Press release). WarnerMedia.
  10. ^ a b c "Power Couple". Harvard Business School. 1 June 2005.
  11. ^ a b "WNBA.com: WNBA Names Ann Sarnoff New COO". Women's National Basketball Association. 5 February 2004.
  12. ^ Sarnoff, Ann (January 2015). "Love What You Do" (Video). Harvard Business School.
  13. ^ a b Misiaszek Sarnoff, Ann (2006). "I Do Know How She Does It". In Morgan Steiner, Leslie (ed.). Mommy Wars: Stay-at-Home and Career Moms Face Off on Their Choices, Their Lives, Their Families. New York: Random House. ISBN 978-1-588-36598-9. OCLC 430501644.
  14. ^ Tinsley, Catherine; Sarnoff, Ann (5 November 2015). "Georgetown University Women's Leadership Institute presents: Ann Sarnoff (Stanton Distinguished Leaders Series)" (Video interview). Women's Leadership Institute, McDonough School of Business. Georgetown University.
  15. ^ Saxe, Frank (19 August 2000). "VH1, Westwood One Team On Network". Billboard. p. 4.
  16. ^ Moss, Linda. "Sarnoff Named COO Of Both VH1, CMT". Multichannel.
  17. ^ "Women to Watch: Ann Sarnoff". Multichannel. 27 January 2002.
  18. ^ Kramer, Staci D. (8 September 2010). "Sarnoff Leaves Dow Jones To Join BBC Worldwide America As COO". GigOm.
  19. ^ Pham, Tiffany; Sarnoff, Ann (2018). "Crush It In Corporate Life". You Are a Mogul: How to Do the Impossible, Do It Yourself, and Do It Now. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-501-19187-9. OCLC 1050872266.
  20. ^ Garg, Ashu (26 September 2016). "The future of TV: A conversation with the BBC's Ann Sarnoff". Foundation Capital.
  21. ^ Hoffman, Howard (27 June 2006). "Ann Sarnoff Named President of Dow Jones Ventures" (Press release). Dow Jones. GlobeNewswire.
  22. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (21 May 2015). "Herb Scannell Leaves BBC Worldwide North America; Ann Sarnoff Promoted". Variety.
  23. ^ "Ann Sarnoff; President, Americas". BBC Studios. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  24. ^ "Ann Sarnoff - Most Powerful Women 2018". CableFAX. 2018.
  25. ^ a b Mitchell, Robert (17 January 2019). "BritBox Subscribers Hit Half a Million". Variety.
  26. ^ Lang, Brent; Otterson, Joe (24 June 2019). "Warner Bros.' CEO Surprise: Ann Sarnoff Represents Unexpected Choice for Studio in Transition". Variety.
  27. ^ Stelter, Brian (24 June 2019). "Ann Sarnoff named chair and CEO of Warner Bros". CNN.
  28. ^ Hayes, Dade; D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 5, 2022). "Ann Sarnoff Departing As WarnerMedia Studios And Networks Chief". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  29. ^ Koblin, John (April 8, 2022). "Hollywood Gets a New Giant". The New York Times. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  30. ^ "Richard Sarnoff; Chairman of Media, Entertainment and Education, Americas(New York)". KKR. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  31. ^ Hayes, Dade (24 June 2019). "New Warner Bros Chief Ann Sarnoff Sizes Up Her "Cross-Pollination" Mission". Deadline.
  32. ^ "International Advisory Board". BritishAmerican Business. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  33. ^ "Board of Directors". Georgetown University. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  34. ^ "Executive Committee Member Ann Misiaszek Sarnoff (B'83)". Georgetown University. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  35. ^ "Our Board of Directors". HBS Women's Association of Greater New York. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  36. ^ Glantz Kissell, Felise (20 December 2012). "HSN, Inc. Appoints Ann Sarnoff to Board of Directors" (Press release). HSN.
  37. ^ Schulman, Dan (28 June 2017). "Media Executive Ann M. Sarnoff Joins PayPal's Board of Directors". PayPal.
  38. ^ "New York Public Radio Annual Report FY14: Innovation". New York Public Radio. 2014.
  39. ^ "2017 Breakfast of Corporate Champions" (PDF). Women's Forum of New York. 14 November 2017. p. 19.
  40. ^ Sarnoff, Ann (19 February 2019). "Meet Ann Misiaszek Sarnoff" (Video). Women's Forum of New York.
  41. ^ Robb, David (April 8, 2022). "MPTF Expands Board Of Governors With Greg Berlanti, Lauren Shuler Donner, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson & Ann Sarnoff". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  42. ^ Naman, Ramachandran (July 31, 2023). "Ann Sarnoff Joins Board of Cineworld as Cinema Giant Emerges From Chapter 11 Cases". Variety. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  43. ^ "Ann Sarnoff; President of BBC Worldwide North America" (PDF). CableFAX. May 2017.
  44. ^ Sarnoff, Ann (May 2012). "Inspiring Women Award" (Video). Harvard Business School Women's Association.
  45. ^ "Women of Achievement Awards Annual Gala 2017". WP Theater. 18 July 2017.
  46. ^ Misiaszek Sarnoff, Ann (27 February 2019). "Wall Street Alliance 2019 Honoree: Ann Misiaszek Sarnoff" (Video). Georgetown Today. Georgetown University.

External links[edit]