23 Jan DEG Welcomes Protiviti as a New Member | Meet Scot Glover, Global Leader for Technology, Media & Telecommunications
January 23, 2025 | DEG welcomes global consulting firm Protiviti as a new member. Protiviti delivers deep expertise, objective insights, a tailored approach and unparalleled collaboration to help leaders confidently face the future. Protiviti and its independent and locally owned member firms provide clients with consulting and managed solutions in finance, technology, operations, data, digital, legal, HR, risk and internal audit through a network of more than 90 offices in over 25 countries.
DEG caught up with Scot Glover, Protiviti’s Global Leader of Technology, Media & Telecommunications, to discuss new technologies with the potential to transform key media business functions, and how the incoming administration might impact the regulatory environment for M&E companies.
DEG: Welcome to the DEG community. What are you hoping Protiviti can contribute to DEG? And what DEG benefits are you most focused on?
SG: At Protiviti, we help companies through the complexities of managing their most critical risks—people, processes, and technology. We are eager to share our insights in these areas, including valuable perspectives from our media company partners on how they are evolving their business models, with DEG members. We also look forward to creating opportunities to network with media industry professionals and gain insights from their experiences and trends. We’d eventually like to contribute to the research groups to help shape the future of the industry.
DEG: How do you expect the regulatory environment to change for media and tech companies with a new administration in office?
SG: Trump’s election presents a mixed bag of opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, Trump’s pro-business, pro-growth agenda could stimulate the overall economy, creating more disposable income for people to spend across the M&E sectors. This economic growth might lead to subscriber increases and a willingness among customers to invest in new add-on services offered by streaming platforms. However, uncertainties remain. No one really knows what else might change, if anything. Changes in immigration policies and potential tariffs could influence the level of foreign investment in content production, marketing, and distribution. Additionally, foreign policy decisions could affect the choice of locations for producing projects.
DEG: The emphasis on cost optimization is particularly acute in digital media, where there’s increased pressure to balance growth initiatives with cost control due to rapid innovation in delivery of content, intense competition and changing customer expectations. How do you see AI and machine learning being put to work to achieve cost efficiencies across functions within media companies?
SG: Many cost optimization efforts are affecting the back-office and support functions. A recent Protiviti study involving finance leaders from technology, media & entertainment, and telecom (TMT) found a growing emphasis on cost optimization, digital transformation, and leadership alignment. A big part of the digital transformation efforts is the use of AI to not only save costs, but also to manage risks and opportunities effectively. In fact, 54 percent of finance executives surveyed are currently using AI to better manage costs.
DEG: Are there other technologies that you see with equal opportunity for transformation of key functions?
SG: Yes, we’re seeing a broader trend where companies are working hard to integrate AI with cloud-based applications. This integration is shaping how companies use their cloud platforms for various functions such as enterprise resource planning and customer management. We’re also seeing M&E companies focus on overall tech modernization. They are looking for ways to optimize their IT spend by replacing or upgrading older systems or consolidating many disparate systems into a much more manageable tech architecture.
DEG: On a personal note, what digital entertainment are you enjoying right now?
SG: My favorite Netflix show right now is “The Diplomat.” The writing and acting is amazing. I also like to play golf with my family, so I really enjoyed “Full Swing” on Netflix. If I’m in the mood for something silly, “The Grand Tour” on Amazon Prime is hilarious.
For more information, visit protiviti.com/us-en.
Named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list for the tenth consecutive year, Protiviti has served more than 80 percent of Fortune 100 and nearly 80 percent of Fortune 500 companies. The firm also works with government agencies and smaller, growing companies, including those looking to go public. Protiviti is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Half Inc. (NYSE: RHI).