August 12, 2026
Members of DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group, the trade association supporting the media and entertainment ecosystem, have elected a new board representing an evolving variety of business models as it enters its 30th year.
The DEG’s voting member companies elected the new board of directors to serve for the 2026-27 fiscal year (Aug. 1-July 31). Radial Entertainment and Runway are newly represented on the DEG Board, while Dolby and Plex are returning to board seats. Radial is represented by Brendon Thomas, and Runway is represented by Michelle Kwon. Runway’s Kwon also will represent the organization’s DEG.AI Alliance.
Michele Edelman of Cineverse represents DEG’s Advanced Content Delivery Alliance (ACDA) and Angel Studios’ Thomas Hughes represents DEG’s Direct to Consumer Alliance (D2CA) on the board.
The Leaders of the DEG’s board were elected to a two-year term and will serve through July 2028. Officers include Chair Jude Fitzmorris of Prime Video; Vice Chair Lindsey Green of The Walt Disney Co.; CFO Mike Pears of AMC Global Media; Secretary Andrea Downing of PBS Distribution; and Chair Emeritus Jonathan Zepp of Google.
DEG was founded in 1997 as a forum for collaboration among device and software marketers united to promote the new DVD format. The organization moves into 2027 with membership that includes more than 80 member companies reflecting the increasing breadth and diversity of the media and entertainment ecosystem as it evolves through innovation in distribution and business models and new technologies including AI. New members added in fiscal year 2025-26 include Alliance Entertainment, Codemill, DG Entertainment, EKKL, Hoopla Digital, Innovative Dreams, Interpret, Just Watch, Kaleidescape, Markit.Place, Miller Kaplan, RRS and Runway.
“We are delighted to welcome new board leaders Jude Fitzmorris as chair, Lindsey Green as vice chair and Mike Pears as CFO. These seasoned industry leaders are complemented by continuing secretary Andrea Downing of PBS Distribution and chair emeritus Jonathan Zepp of Google,” said Amy Jo Smith,DEG President & CEO. “This dynamic combination of fresh and seasoned leadership adds value for our DEG members as we move forward into our 30th year.”
At the same time, the DEG has assembled the steering committee for its DEG.AI Alliance, the group’s newest alliance, launched in December. Comprised of leading industry voices from across the DEG’s membership, the steering committee is charged with establishing the strategic direction and priorities for the new alliance created to help guide the industry through the rapidly evolving transformation driven by artificial intelligence.
Chairing the steering committee is Ian Fried, a media and tech executive who also serves as the DEG’s general counsel.
“Establishing the steering committee is an important next step in creating a strong, effective DEG.AI Alliance,” said Smith. “It is an honor to have such a dynamic group of leaders working with us to shape our agenda, provide strategic direction, and building the community that is essential at this pivotal time for the industry.”
The DEG.AI Alliance is structured to provide dedicated working groups focused on priority topics; education immersion opportunities covering technical, business, and legal implications; community building; and proprietary research to address essential issues with data-driven detail.
“I look forward to working closely with DEG’s staff and Board to help our increasingly diverse membership pioneer new ideas, accelerate innovation, and drive growth across the entertainment industry,” said chair Jude Fitzmorris of Prime Video. “Our ultimate goal in 2027 is the same as it was in 1997: to foster industry collaboration that gives consumers ever-improving selection, quality, convenience, and user experience.”
DEG Board of Directors:
Officers of the Board (Fiscal Year 2026-28)
- Chair: Jude Fitzmorris, Head of Product, Digital Supply Chain and AI, Prime Video
- Vice Chair: Lindsey Green. SVP, Content Sales and Distribution, The Walt Disney Company
- CFO: Mike Pears, EVP, distribution and content sales, AMC Global Media
- Secretary: Andrea Downing, president, PBS Distribution
- Chair Emeritus: Jonathan Zepp, VP, global partnerships, Google
Board of Directors (Fiscal Year 2026-27):
- Piper Rosenshein, VP, streaming monetization, A+E Global Media
- Rich Tang, senior manager, content insights and analytics, Amazon MGM Studios
- Olga Krasovski, head of solutions architecture, U.S. telco, media entertainment, games and sports, Amazon Web Services
- Thomas Hughes (D2CA representative), EVP, head of distribution strategy and global partnerships, Angel Studios
- Michele Edelman (ACDA Representative), EVP, technology and GM of Matchpoint, Cineverse
- Ron Geller, VP, worldwide content relations, Dolby Laboratories
- Chris Hill, Google, managing director, head of TV/film/studio partnerships, YouTube
- Matt Durgin, VP, North America content and services, LG Electronics
- Jim Packer, chief revenue officer, Lionsgate Entertainment
- Matt Strauss, chairman, NBCUniversal Media Group (Peacock)
- Mike Aaronson, head of global home entertainment, Paramount Home Entertainment
- Scott Olechowski, chief product officer and co-founder, Plex
- Brendon Thomas, chief revenue officer, Radial Entertainment
- Michelle Kwon (DEG.AI Alliance Representative), chief operating officer, Runway
- Jason Spivak, co-president distribution and networks, Sony Pictures Entertainment
- Adam Lewinson, chief content officer, Tubi
- Michael Bonner, president, global TV distribution, Universal Film Entertainment Group
- Will McIntosh, president digital platforms and ventures, Versant (Fandango)
- Katherine Pond, group VP, Vizio
- David Decker, president content sales, Warner Bros. Discovery
- Bill Neighbors, chief content office, Xperi Holding Corp.
DEG.AI Alliance Steering Committee:
- Olga Krasovski, head of solutions architecture, U.S. telco, media entertainment, games and sports, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Croi McNamara, global lead, studios and creators, AWS Media & Entertainment, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Neil Parris, director of global partnerships, Google
- Bryan Yee, chief operating officer, Innovative Dreams
- Kathleen Grace, chief AI officer, Lionsgate
- Randy Lake, chief transformation officer, Universal Entertainment, and COO, Dreamworks Animation, NBCUniversal
- Michelle Kwon, chief operating officer, Runway
- Ali Khalfan, director of innovation, The Walt Disney Co.
DEG advocates and promotes entertainment platforms, products and distribution channels that support the movie, television, music, consumer electronics and IT industries. DEG: The not-for-profit trade organization includes more than 80 global companies spanning the media and entertainment ecosystem. Since 1997, DEG has served as a forum where companies collaborate on technological transformation through research, education, standards development, and community building.
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