HRTS REUPS MELISSA GREGO AS CEO, RECOGNIZING HER LEADERSHIP AND IMPACT ON THE ORGANIZATION
Newly Elected HRTS Officers Are Odetta Watkins (Warner Bros. Television), Dan Erlij (UTA), Francesca Orsi (HBO), Charlie Andrews (FOX), and Alejandro Uribe (Exile Content)
Learn more about the members of the HRTS Executive Committee here.
Learn more about the members of the HRTS Board of Directors here.
Learn more about the members of the HRTS Advisory Council here.
LOS ANGELES, CA, January 13, 2021 – Hollywood Radio and Television Society (HRTS) announced its newly-elected Executive Officers and Board Members, and newly-appointed Advisory Council Members comprised of esteemed leaders across the industry. The officers elected to a two-year term are HRTS President, Odetta Watkins (EVP, Current Programming, Warner Bros. Television); Chairperson of the Board, Dan Erlij (Partner, Co-Head, Television Literary Department, United Talent Agency); Vice President, Francesca Orsi (EVP and Head of Drama Programming, HBO); Secretary, Charlie Andrews, (EVP, Drama Programming, Development & Event Series, Fox); and Treasurer, Alejandro Uribe (CEO, Exile Content). Outgoing HRTS President Marc Korman, Partner and Agent, WME Agency, and HRTS CEO Melissa Grego announced the news today.
HRTS also announced it has reupped Melissa Grego as CEO of the organization. Ms. Grego, who joined HRTS in late 2017, quickly put her mark on the storied organization working closely with the Officers and Board of Directors to grow the organization into a valuable resource and community supporting every career level.
Under Korman and Grego’s leadership, HRTS created an Advisory Council tapping the expertise of long-serving Board Members; released its first-ever Diversity and Inclusion Resource Guide, highlighting opportunities at dozens of HRTS Corporate Member companies and partner organizations; launched virtual events including its new signature Brown Bag with the Board series and first Virtual Newsmaker Luncheon, to connect and support HRTS members coast to coast and around the world in the face of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The HRTS also expanded resources across all levels of the organization including HRTS Associates and JHRTS.
“It has been my great honor to work alongside Melissa Grego as President of HRTS over the past three years,” said Marc Korman. “Melissa joined HRTS with a shared vision to transform HRTS to support the membership and meet today’s challenges in the industry. I’m so proud of the work that we’ve done to make HRTS a community that is inclusive of all people working in TV and entertainment, and I look forward to continuing our efforts as a Board Member. Our newly-elected officers are outstanding leaders in the industry and friends and I’m excited to work with them on new and existing events and initiatives.”
“What has been so wonderful is seeing the impact the organization has within the industry and on the careers of individual members. I’m so honored to continue to serve this great organization with our incredibly accomplished, inspiring and committed Board and Advisory Council, as well as the stellar leadership of the HRTS Associates and JHRTS member communities, and my colleagues at HRTS’ home office,” said Melissa Grego. “Throughout the challenges of 2020 in particular, the unwavering support of everyone who is part of HRTS has enabled us to be nimble and broaden our reach in new and powerful ways. I look forward to kicking off a fresh New Year with the exciting contributions of our new Board Members.”
The 40 TV, media and entertainment industry leaders now guiding the organization include members serving in leadership positions at Amazon Studios, AMC Networks, Apple, CAA, CBS Television, Fox, Freeform, FX Entertainment, HBO, Hulu, ICM Partners, OWN, Showtime Networks, Universal Studio Group, UTA, Warner Bros. Television, WME and many more.
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Newly-elected to the HRTS Board of Directors for a three-year term beginning in January 2021 are Albert Cheng, Chief Operating Officer & Co-head of Television, Amazon Studios; Tara Duncan, President, Freeform; Rafael Gomez, Head of Business Affairs, AMC Networks; Tina Perry, President OWN, Oprah Winfrey Network; and Alejandro Uribe, CEO, Exile Content.
Existing Board Members elected to a new three-year term beginning in January 2021 are Dan Erlij, Partner, Co-Head, Television Literary Department, United Talent Agency; Pearlena Igbokwe, Chairman, Universal Studio Group and outgoing VP of HRTS; Chris Selak, President, End of Episode and outgoing Secretary of HRTS; and Chris von Goetz, Founding Partner, ICM Partners.
Returning Board Members continuing to serve their three-year term include: David Acosta, SVP & Team Leader, Entertainment, City National Bank and outgoing Treasurer of HRTS; Kate Adler, EVP, Comedy Development, CBS Studios; Bela Bajaria, VP, Content, Netflix; Paul Buccieri, President, A+E Networks Group; Christina Davis, President, Original Programming, Starz; Nick Grad, President of Original Programming, FX Entertainment; Scott Hervey, Shareholder, Weintraub Tobin and Co-President, HRTS Unscripted; Cindy Holland; Jordan Levin, General Manager, Rooster Teeth; Greg Lipstone, President, Propagate Content and Co-President, HRTS Unscripted; David Madden, President, Berlanti Productions; Philippe Maigret, President, ITV Studios America; Andrew Miller, Agent, Television Department, CAA; Francesca Orsi, EVP and Head of Drama Programming, HBO and incoming VP of HRTS; Craig Piligian, President / CEO, Pilgrim Media Group; Kim Rozenfeld, President, Half Full Studios; Robin Schwartz, Head of TV, Big Beach; Beatrice Springborn, President, Universal Content Productions.
HRTS also announced new members joining the HRTS Advisory Council, comprised of past Board Members appointed by the current HRTS Election Committee, for a two-year term. Members include Leigh Brecheen, Partner, Brecheen Feldman Breimer Silver & Thompson; Matt Cherniss, Head of Development, Apple; Stephen Davis; Gary Marenzi, Founder/CEO Marenzi & Associates; and John Morayniss, President, JDM Media. They join Advisory Council members extending their term through 2021 Andy Friendly, Andy Friendly Productions; Kelly Goode, Warner Bros. Television; Ian Moffitt, ICM Partners; Gary Newman, Attention Capital; and Eric Schrier, FX Entertainment. Members of the inaugural Advisory Council established in 2019 who have completed their one-year term are Craig Erwich, Hulu; Sarah Timberman, Timberman/Beverly Productions; Jeff Wachtel; David Nevins, CBS Corp., and Showtime Networks; and David Stapf, CBS Television Studios. The Advisory Council enables the organization to achieve its long-term goals by tapping the expertise of previous Directors of the Board to contribute in areas they are passionate about to advance the organization, open new areas of focus, and ensure HRTS remains a valued resource within the industry.
The HRTS 2020 Board of Directors Election Committee: HRTS President Marc Korman, VP Pearlena Igbokwe, Secretary Chris Selak, and Directors Dan Erlij and Odetta Watkins.
An HRTS Virtual event to kick off 2021, introduce the organization’s new leadership, and discuss the future of HRTS and the industry it serves will be announced in the coming days.
About HRTS
Since 1947, the Hollywood Radio & Television Society (HRTS) has been recognized as our industry’s premier information and networking forum. Led by a Board of Directors comprising TV and media’s most distinguished leaders, HRTS incorporates participation from our Corporate Members, representing the top companies across the landscape. HRTS maintains our rich, more than 70-year tradition of providing an unparalleled forum for fostering conversation and community through regularly scheduled events, a thriving mentorship program, and other initiatives in Los Angeles, New York City, and around the world. More information on the HRTS Board Members, Corporate Members, and calendar of events may be found at www.hrts.org.
Press Contact
Jennifer St. Clair for HRTS
jennifer@hellostclair.com
323-481-6841