WarnerMedia Sets Digital Media Team for HBO Max

WarnerMedia Entertainment has assembled a digital media leadership team to focus on HBO Max that will be led by Tony Goncalves.

Goncalves, CEO of Otter Media, is overseeing this team of digital media experts who are responsible for product design, customer experience and lifecycle, acquisition and retention marketing, customer data, reporting and insights, business development, and go-to-market strategy and business operations. Goncalves reports to Robert Greenblatt, chairman of WarnerMedia Entertainment and direct-to-consumer.

Andy Forssell is executive VP and general manager for WarnerMedia direct-to-consumer, reporting into Goncalves. Forssell, who most recently served as COO of Otter Media, also held a variety of CEO and general management roles at Hulu, Fullscreen and ShowYou.

His new team includes DIRECTV digital media veteran Sarah Lyons, senior VP of product experience; Katie Soo, senior VP of growth marketing, who honed her expertise at Warner Bros., Hulu and Dollar Shave Club; former Warner Bros. research and analytics expert Keith Camoosa, senior VP of data insights and operations; Jess Miller, VP of project management, who was instrumental in the launch of AT&T’s DIRECTV Now service; and Crunchyroll business intelligence veteran Reid DeRamus, senior director of business operations.

Lionsgate veteran Sean Kisker will serve as executive VP and chief strategy officer for Otter Media and Warner Media direct-to-consumer, reporting to Goncalves. He will work closely with Josh Walker, chief strategy officer and executive VP of financial planning at WarnerMedia Entertainment, reporting to Jessica Holscott, executive VP and chief financial officer of WarnerMedia Entertainment. Comcast X1 veteran Jason Press will serve as executive VP DTC engineering and program management for WarnerMedia Entertainment, reporting to Jeremy Legg, chief technology officer at WarnerMedia.

“With Tony Goncalves, Andy Forssell and their experienced leadership teams, we are now well-positioned to deliver a best-in-class customer experience and go-to-market strategy that positions HBO Max for real success,” said Greenblatt. “Combined with our stellar content teams, I’m thrilled with the level of expertise we have across this entire business.”

“We have gathered an all-star team of executives whose innovative contributions have directly advanced the digital media industry. I am so proud to be a part of this journey as we bring HBO Max to market and continue to transform this space,” said Goncalves. “Andy’s experience and leadership are essential for this effort and his partnership at Otter Media helped the company thrive at a time of significant change in the marketplace.”

“Designing HBO Max to be a robust streaming platform that supports Warner Media’s world-class creative talent and content requires a team with the experience and passion to blend technology and creativity in harmony,” said Forssell. “We’ve built an incredible lineup of digital media experts, who have been hard at work for months, to do exactly that. We’re looking forward to pushing the industry to evolve, for the benefit of fans everywhere.”