IMDb Announces Leadership Transition as Company Marks 35th Anniversary
IMDb, the world's leading entertainment information platform, announced a significant leadership transition as it marks its 35th anniversary. Founder Col Needham has moved to the role of Executive Chair, while Nikki Santoro, who served as Chief Operating Officer since 2021, has been appointed as the new CEO - becoming the first woman to hold this position in the company's history.
In his new role, Needham will provide strategic guidance and serve as a global ambassador for IMDb, while continuing to be based in Bristol, England. Santoro, who joined IMDb in 2016, brings over two decades of experience in technology and product development, including positions at Amazon, Microsoft, and The Weather Channel.
Under Santoro's leadership, IMDb plans to focus on enhancing its core database, growing its advertising and IMDbPro membership services, and leveraging emerging technologies. The platform currently serves 250 million monthly visitors and will celebrate this transition with an industry dinner in Park City, Utah on January 27.
IMDb, la principale piattaforma mondiale di informazioni sull'intrattenimento, ha annunciato una significativa transizione nella leadership in occasione del suo 35º anniversario. Il fondatore Col Needham ha assunto il ruolo di Presidente Esecutivo, mentre Nikki Santoro, che ha ricoperto il ruolo di Chief Operating Officer dal 2021, è stata nominata nuova CEO, diventando la prima donna a occupare questa posizione nella storia dell'azienda.
Nel suo nuovo ruolo, Needham fornirà guida strategica e si farà ambasciatore globale per IMDb, continuando a lavorare da Bristol, in Inghilterra. Santoro, che è entrata in IMDb nel 2016, porta con sé oltre vent'anni di esperienza nel settore tecnologico e nello sviluppo di prodotti, incluse posizioni ricoperte presso Amazon, Microsoft e The Weather Channel.
Sotto la guida di Santoro, IMDb mira a concentrarsi sul miglioramento del proprio database principale, sulla crescita dei servizi pubblicitari e di abbonamento di IMDbPro, e sullo sfruttamento delle tecnologie emergenti. Attualmente, la piattaforma serve 250 milioni di visitatori mensili e celebrerà questa transizione con una cena di settore a Park City, Utah, il 27 gennaio.
IMDb, la plataforma de información de entretenimiento líder en el mundo, anunció una significativa transición en su liderazgo con motivo de su 35º aniversario. El fundador Col Needham ha asumido el cargo de Presidente Ejecutivo, mientras que Nikki Santoro, quien se desempeñó como Directora de Operaciones desde 2021, ha sido nombrada nueva CEO, convirtiéndose en la primera mujer en ocupar este puesto en la historia de la empresa.
En su nuevo rol, Needham proporcionará orientación estratégica y actuará como embajador global para IMDb, mientras continúa residenciado en Bristol, Inglaterra. Santoro, que se unió a IMDb en 2016, aporta más de dos décadas de experiencia en tecnología y desarrollo de productos, incluyendo puestos en Amazon, Microsoft y The Weather Channel.
Bajo el liderazgo de Santoro, IMDb planea enfocarse en mejorar su base de datos principal, expandir sus servicios publicitarios y de membresía de IMDbPro, y aprovechar las tecnologías emergentes. Actualmente, la plataforma atiende a 250 millones de visitantes mensuales y celebrará esta transición con una cena del sector en Park City, Utah, el 27 de enero.
IMDb, 세계 최고의 엔터테인먼트 정보 플랫폼이 35주년을 맞이하여 중요한 리더십 전환을 발표했습니다. 창립자인 콜 니드햄은 임원 의장으로 자리를 옮겼으며, 니키 산토로는 2021년부터 COO로 재직하다가 새로운 CEO로 임명되어 회사 역사상 첫 여성 CEO가 되었습니다.
니드햄은 새로운 역할에서 전략적 지침을 제공하고 IMDb의 글로벌 앰배서더로 활동하며, 계속해서 영국 브리스톨에서 근무할 예정입니다. 산토로는 2016년 IMDb에 합류하여 Amazon, Microsoft 및 The Weather Channel에서의 경력을 보유한 20년 이상의 기술 및 제품 개발 경험을 가지고 있습니다.
산토로의 리더십 하에 IMDb는 핵심 데이터베이스 개선, 광고 및 IMDbPro 멤버십 서비스 확대, 신기술 활용에 주력할 계획입니다. 현재 플랫폼은 매달 2억 5천만 명의 방문자를 유치하고 있으며, 1월 27일 유타주 파크 시티에서 업계 만찬으로 이 전환을 축하할 예정입니다.
IMDb, la principale plateforme d'information sur le divertissement au monde, a annoncé une transition significative de la direction à l'occasion de son 35ème anniversaire. Le fondateur Col Needham a pris le poste de Président Exécutif, tandis que Nikki Santoro, qui a été Directrice des Opérations depuis 2021, a été nommée nouvelle PDG, devenant ainsi la première femme à occuper ce poste dans l'histoire de l'entreprise.
Dans son nouveau rôle, Needham fournira des orientations stratégiques et agira en tant qu'ambassadeur mondial pour IMDb, tout en continuant à être basé à Bristol, en Angleterre. Santoro, qui a rejoint IMDb en 2016, apporte plus de vingt ans d'expérience dans la technologie et le développement de produits, y compris des postes chez Amazon, Microsoft et The Weather Channel.
Sous la direction de Santoro, IMDb prévoit de se concentrer sur l'amélioration de sa base de données principale, l'expansion de ses services publicitaires et d'adhésion IMDbPro, et l'exploitation des technologies émergentes. La plateforme sert actuellement 250 millions de visiteurs par mois et célébrera cette transition par un dîner de l'industrie à Park City, Utah, le 27 janvier.
IMDb, die weltweit führende Informationsplattform für Unterhaltung, hat anlässlich ihres 35. Geburtstags einen bedeutenden Führungswechsel angekündigt. Der Gründer Col Needham hat die Rolle des Executive Chair übernommen, während Nikki Santoro, die seit 2021 als Chief Operating Officer tätig war, zur neuen CEO ernannt wurde und somit die erste Frau in dieser Position in der Unternehmensgeschichte ist.
In seiner neuen Rolle wird Needham strategische Anleitung geben und als globaler Botschafter für IMDb fungieren, während er weiterhin in Bristol, England, ansässig ist. Santoro, die 2016 zu IMDb kam, bringt über zwei Jahrzehnte Erfahrung in Technologie und Produktentwicklung mit, einschließlich Positionen bei Amazon, Microsoft und The Weather Channel.
Unter Santoros Führung plant IMDb, sich auf die Verbesserung seiner Hauptdatenbank zu konzentrieren, seine Werbe- und IMDbPro-Mitgliedsdienste auszubauen und neue Technologien zu nutzen. Die Plattform bedient derzeit monatlich 250 Millionen Besucher und wird diesen Übergang am 27. Januar mit einem Branchendinner in Park City, Utah feiern.
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Founder Col Needham Becomes Executive Chair, Nikki Santoro Named CEO, Positioning IMDb for Next Phase of Innovation and Growth
Nikki Santoro, IMDb CEO (Photo credit: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for IMDb)
In his new role as Founder & Executive Chair, Needham will provide strategic guidance, consult on key initiatives, and serve as a global ambassador for IMDb. This transition comes after more than three decades of Needham's pioneering leadership, during which he founded IMDb in 1990 and built it into the world's leading source of entertainment information as its CEO. Needham will continue to be based in the IMDb office in
“After founding IMDb and serving as CEO for 35 years, I've chosen to transition into my new role as Founder & Executive Chair, passing the torch to Nikki Santoro as our new CEO," said Col Needham. "Nikki's strategic vision, deep understanding of our customers and products, and commitment to innovation have already delivered impressive business results during her tenure as COO. Her track record of driving growth and enhancing our products and services makes her the ideal person to guide IMDb into a new era. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Nikki and the talented IMDb team in my new role as we build on IMDb's legacy and shape the future of entertainment information.”
"Taking on the role of CEO at IMDb is both a tremendous honor and an exciting challenge," said Nikki Santoro, CEO of IMDb. "I'm committed to leading our global team as we continue to elevate IMDb as the world's premier entertainment resource, connecting global audiences with the content they love and supporting industry professionals with unparalleled data and insights, all powered by cutting-edge technology and a passionate community. As we navigate the rapidly evolving landscapes of technology and entertainment, IMDb will be at the forefront, delighting fans, empowering creators, and informing industry decisions."
Santoro brings a unique blend of product expertise, technological acumen, and industry insight to her role. Since joining IMDb in 2016, she has been instrumental in driving the company's growth and innovation. As IMDb COO since 2021, she spearheaded strategic development across all facets of the business, including advertising, content, product, technology, and user experience, while managing profit and loss statement responsibility for all IMDb businesses. Under her leadership, IMDb has expanded its core database, enhanced its IMDbPro service for professionals, and leveraged emerging technologies to serve hundreds of millions of global customers. With over two decades of experience in technology and product development, including leadership positions at Amazon, Microsoft, and The Weather Channel, Santoro has consistently demonstrated her ability to merge innovative technology with meaningful customer connections. Her passion for transforming the entertainment landscape through technology and her commitment to diversity and inclusion in both tech and entertainment sectors position her well to lead IMDb into its next phase of growth and innovation.
This leadership transition comes as IMDb celebrates its 35th anniversary year, reflecting the company's enduring relevance and ability to adapt and thrive in a dynamic industry and digital landscape. Under Santoro's leadership, IMDb will continue to focus on enhancing its core database, growing its advertising, IMDbPro membership service, and licensing businesses, and leveraging emerging technologies to deliver unparalleled entertainment experiences and insights to its global audience.
These initiatives aim to enhance entertainment experiences and provide valuable insights for the company’s diverse stakeholders, including 250 million monthly visitors, industry professionals at every career stage, advertisers, and partners. As it evolves, IMDb remains committed to shaping the future of entertainment information, supporting entertainment industry career growth, and offering innovative advertising solutions. To mark this new era and celebrate the leadership changes, IMDb will host an industry dinner in
About IMDb
IMDb is the world's most popular and authoritative source for information on movies, TV shows, and celebrities. Hundreds of millions of customers all over the world rely on IMDb to discover and decide what to watch, advance their professional entertainment careers through IMDbPro, and grow their businesses using IMDb data and trending insights. Products and services to help fans discover and decide what to watch and where to watch it include: the IMDb website for desktop and mobile devices; apps for iOS and Android; and, X-Ray on Prime Video. For entertainment industry professionals, IMDb provides IMDbPro and Box Office Mojo. IMDb licenses information from its vast and authoritative database to third-party businesses worldwide; learn more at developer.imdb.com. IMDb is an Amazon company. For more information, visit https://www.imdb.com/press and follow @IMDb.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250117479359/en/
Source: IMDb
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