Anne Sweeney

Anne Sweeney is an executive in the American television industry, with a career spanning more than three decades across major media organizations. Before joining Fox, Sweeney spent 12 years at Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite in executive roles, most recently as senior vice president of Program Enterprises. She oversaw Nickelodeon's international expansion, including launching the channel in the United Kingdom in partnership with British Sky Broadcasting. Prior to her work at Disney/ABC, she served as chairman and CEO of FX Networks, Inc., where she led the launch of two basic cable networks: FX, an entertainment network, and FXM: Movies from Fox, a studio-based movie network.

Sweeney joined The Walt Disney Company as president of Disney Channel and executive vice president of Disney/ABC Cable Networks, overseeing ABC Studios, the ABC Owned Television Stations Group, and the ABC Television Network. Under her leadership, Disney Channel expanded its subscriber base significantly, offering original series, movies, and acquired programming to more than 87 million homes in the United States. She was later named co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president of the Disney/ABC Television Group, responsible for Disney's global entertainment and news television properties. This included ABC Studios, the ABC Owned Television Stations Group, the ABC Television Network, ABC Family, and Disney Channels Worldwide, a portfolio of 107 entertainment channels including Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Disney Cinemagic, Hungama, and Radio Disney.

Sweeney has been recognized by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the most powerful women in entertainment multiple times. She has also been ranked among the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business by Fortune and among the world's 100 Most Powerful Women by Forbes. She became the first woman in MIPCOM's history to receive the Personality of the Year award. Her industry honors include the Broadcasters Foundation of America's Golden Mike Award for outstanding contributions to broadcasting, the Matrix Award for television from New York Women in Communications, Inc., and the National Cable & Telecommunications Association's Vanguard Award for distinguished leadership. Sweeney has been inducted into the Cable Center Hall of Fame and the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame, and recognized by the Producers Guild of America with the President's Citation for her efforts on behalf of diversity within the Disney/ABC Television Group.

After leading a $12 billion television business at The Walt Disney Company, Sweeney chose to pursue a career as a television director. Following her departure from Disney, she transitioned into board roles, serving organizations such as the J. Paul Getty Trust, LEGO, The Mayo Clinic, and Netflix. She is also a Dean's Distinguished Fellow at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. Throughout her career, Sweeney has contributed to the evolution of the media industry through leadership in television programming, media management, and corporate governance.