Revolutionizing Media & Entertainment Leadership for a Digital-First World

The media and entertainment industry is experiencing a seismic transformation—streaming, AI-driven content curation, interactive media, and evolving monetization models are reshaping how content is created, distributed, and consumed. The ability to scale digital platforms, engage audiences, and drive revenue growth requires visionary executives who can navigate content disruption, emerging technologies, and fierce global competition.

At Ward Howell, we help streaming platforms, gaming studios, digital publishers, and content innovators secure leaders who can anticipate change, drive growth, and reimagine the future of entertainment.

Redefining Leadership for the Future of Content & Digital

The business of media is no longer just about producing content—it’s about building scalable, immersive, and AI-driven ecosystems that capture audience attention and drive sustainable monetization.

Consumers expect on-demand, hyper-personalized content across platforms—while companies must balance content investment, profitability, and technological innovation. As new players emerge and market share becomes increasingly competitive, success depends on executives who understand both creative storytelling and digital-first business models.

At Ward Howell, we partner with media conglomerates, digital platforms, esports and gaming companies, content studios, and tech-driven entertainment firms to secure leaders who can transform, expand, and monetize next-generation media businesses. Whether you’re:

  • Scaling a streaming platform to optimize revenue models and audience engagement.
  • Integrating AI-powered content curation for personalized media consumption.
  • Expanding into gaming, virtual entertainment, and immersive experiences.

We ensure your organization is positioned to lead in a rapidly changing digital entertainment landscape.

Industry Disruption & Leadership Imperatives

Transforming Leadership for a New Media Era

  • CEO & Boardroom Strategy

Media’s transformation demands strategic leadership that balances creativity, commerce, and technology.

  • Identifying CEOs, CFOs, and board members to drive digital transformation, content expansion, and revenue diversification.
  • Strengthening corporate governance in streaming, gaming, and interactive entertainment.
  • Developing succession plans for global media giants, digital-first content creators, and emerging disruptors.
  • Digital Acceleration & AI-Driven Content Strategies

The shift to data-driven media ecosystems requires leaders who can scale innovation and automation.

  • Recruiting Chief Digital Officers and AI-driven content strategists to optimize recommendations, audience analytics, and content personalization.
  • Finding data scientists and technology executives who integrate machine learning, deep personalization, and predictive content delivery.
  • Building executive teams that lead cloud-based streaming architectures and next-generation media distribution models.
  • Monetization & Commercial Growth

With media consumption shifting, companies must evolve revenue models and diversify income streams.

  • Identifying Chief Revenue Officers and digital commerce executives to drive subscription models, ad monetization, and branded content partnerships.
  • Finding experts in interactive advertising, influencer-driven engagement, and social commerce integration.
  • Recruiting leaders for programmatic ad-tech, consumer loyalty, and AI-powered engagement strategies.
  • Market Expansion & Global Content Strategies

The demand for localized content and global streaming growth requires executives who balance expansion with regional adaptation.

  • Recruiting leaders in cross-border licensing, content co-productions, and international syndication.
  • Securing executives who scale global subscription services, partnerships, and content distribution networks.
  • Identifying talent for regional content development, multi-language audience engagement, and growth markets.
  • Gaming, eSports & Interactive Media Leadership

Gaming and immersive experiences are becoming the dominant force in digital entertainment.

  • Finding studio heads, esports executives, and digital gaming strategists who scale global competitive gaming ecosystems.
  • Identifying product and UX leaders to drive interactive storytelling, virtual economies, and community-based platforms.
  • Recruiting executives who lead the convergence of gaming, metaverse experiences, and AI-driven media consumption.

Future-Proofing Leadership in Media & Entertainment

At Ward Howell, we do more than fill executive roles—we build strategic leadership solutions that help media and entertainment companies scale, adapt, and innovate.

Whether you’re a streaming powerhouse expanding market share, a gaming studio launching a multi-billion-dollar franchise, or a digital-first publisher redefining content monetization, we secure executives who shape the industry’s future.

The media landscape is evolving at lightning speed—do you have the leadership to keep up?

Partner

Bernd Prasuhn

Chairman of the Global Board

Benedikt Rinio

Managing Partner & Chief Marketing Officer

Matt Clemens

Managing Partner

HANS STREMME

Managing Partner

JENS HAGEDORN

MANAGING PARTNER

GARY KOH

Managing Partner

Tarek Saifi

Partner

Jun Fu

Partner

Paul Lee

Associate Partner

Werner Laber

PARTNER

Megan Cook

Director

Dana Tomkovicz

Director

Rupert Wiest

PARTNER

Philipp Veit

Senior Consultant & Head of Research

Jovana Ćurković

Consultant

Tijana Skenderija

Consultant