12 Aug DEG Sets New Board for 2026-2027 Fiscal Year, Announces DEG.AI Steering Committee
NEW BOARD OFFICERS FOR 2026-2028 (CLOCKWISE FROM THE TOP L.) Jude Fitzmorris of Prime Video, Lindsey Green of The Walt Disney Company, Mike Pears of AMC Global Media, Jonathan Zepp of Google, Andrea Downing of PBS Distribution.
DEG.AI Alliance appoints Steering Committee to set direction, build community
LOS ANGELES (AUGUST 12, 2026) – Members of DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group, the leading 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.
DEG’s voting member companies elected the new Board of Directors to serve for the 2026-27 fiscal year (August 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 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 Company; 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, and 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, 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 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 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,”
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
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
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 Directors (Fiscal Year 2026-27)
Piper Rosenshein
VP Streaming Monetization
A+E Global Media
Rich Tang
Senior Manager, Content Insights & Analytics
Amazon MGM Studios
Olga Krasovski
Head of Solutions Architecture, US 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 & General Manager of Matchpoint
Cineverse
Ron Geller
VP Worldwide Content Relations
Dolby Laboratories
Chris Hill
Managing Director, Head of TV/Film/Studio Partnerships, YouTube
Google
Matt Durgin
VP North America Content & 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 & Networks
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Adam Lewinson
Chief Content Officer
Tubi
Michael Bonner
President Global TV Distribution
Universal Film Entertainment Group
Will McIntosh
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
Committee Members
Olga Krasovski
Head of Solutions Architecture, US 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 Company
Download as document with full 2026-207 Board of Directors list
ABOUT DEG
DEG advocates and promotes entertainment platforms, products and distribution channels that support the movie, television, music, consumer electronics and IT industries. DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group is a not-for-profit trade organization of over 80 global companies spanning the media and entertainment ecosystem. Since 1997, DEG has served as the essential forum where companies collaborate on technological transformation through research, education, standards development, and community building. For more information, visit www.degonline.org.
ABOUT DEG.AI
DEG.AI’s mission is to be the essential community where the media and tech ecosystems come together to collaborate and learn as AI reshapes entertainment, ensuring AI serves to amplify human connectivity, imagination and creativity. Through layered engagement, the Alliance builds the understanding and relationships that enable confident decision-making at this technological inflection point.