In a recent announcement, The Hollywood Reporter (THR) revealed the appointment of Joe Shields to the newly created position of president of business operations. This expansion in leadership reflects the significant progress THR has made in operating profitability over the past three years and their ambitious plans for future growth in events, video, branded content, and international operations.
Joe Shields, who will be based in Los Angeles, will report to George Grobar, the chief operating officer of Penske Media. Shields will officially begin his role on October 2nd.
Grobar expressed his confidence in Shields, stating that he brings a comprehensive set of business skills and a deep understanding of the entertainment landscape to the position. He highlighted Shields’ experience in marketing, sales, and operations, as well as his team-first approach and successful track record in building multiplatform and live media businesses. Grobar believes that Shields’ expertise in audio, video, and branded content will be instrumental in driving THR’s next wave of growth.
As president of business operations, Shields will have responsibility for the brand’s profit and loss (P&L) performance. He will oversee all aspects of THR’s business and revenue operations, including live media, social media, marketing, video operations, licensing, international operations, and sales.
Elisabeth Deutschman Rabishaw and Victoria Gold will continue to serve as publishers of THR, reporting to Joe Shields. Both Rabishaw and Gold have been with the brand since 2010 and have played a crucial role in building THR’s leading award season franchises and esteemed live events portfolio. Their contributions include the annual Women in Entertainment philanthropic event, the annual Raising Our Voices initiative, a robust Sustainability enterprise, the launch of the Kids Power event, and the THR Roundtable video franchise.
Prior to joining THR, Joe Shields spent a decade revolutionizing the audio landscape at iHeartMedia. In his role as senior vice president of entertainment, Shields developed cross-platform advertising solutions, established partnerships with top brands, and built the sales vertical within the organization. His experience also extends to entertainment negotiation, where he played a key role in securing product placement deals for films like “Talladega Nights” and “Spider-Man” and managed brand integration at Sony Pictures.
Before his time at iHeartMedia, Shields held the position of vice president of integrated sales and marketing at FX Networks. During his tenure, he crafted innovative integrations with shows like “Sons of Anarchy,” “Damages,” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” and produced award-winning branded content, including a miniseries for Audi. Additionally, Shields serves as co-vice president of ThinkLA, a nonprofit advertising collective that aims to connect, educate, and inspire the West Coast marketing community.
With the appointment of Joe Shields as president of business operations, THR aims to further strengthen its position as a leader in the entertainment industry. His expertise and experience will undoubtedly contribute to the brand’s continued success and drive its growth in various areas, including events, video, branded content, and international operations. Shields’ comprehensive set of business skills and deep understanding of the industry make him the ideal candidate for this crucial role. THR is confident that under Shields’ stewardship, the brand will continue to thrive and expand its reach in the ever-evolving entertainment landscape.