Maureen Polo

Maureen Polo is the CEO of Hello Sunshine, a multichannel media company founded by Reese Witherspoon that centers women in storytelling. With more than 20 years of experience in scaling high-growth media businesses, Polo became CEO after serving as head of direct-to-consumer operations at the company. Throughout her career, Polo has received recognition for her work, earning Shorty, Cannes Shortlist, OMMA, Streamy, RealScreen, Brandweek Constellation, and Digiday awards. She has also been honored with Ad Age 20 Under 30, She Runs It: Changing the Game Awards, and Cynopsis Top Women in Digital distinctions. Polo was named one of Berns & Co. and Women in Retail Leadership Circle's 25 Most Inspirational Women Leaders in Retail.

Before joining Hello Sunshine, Polo led marketing strategy and solutions for WarnerMedia's entertainment portfolio, including HBO Max, TBS, truTV, Adult Swim, and Cartoon Network. Earlier, as general manager at Fullscreen, she oversaw more than 350 employees and directed strategy across revenue, marketing, creative, production, and operations. During her decade at Fullscreen, Polo observed the media industry's shift toward a creator-based ecosystem, moving from traditional media to platforms that prioritize individual creators and direct-to-consumer engagement.

At Hello Sunshine, Polo initially served as head of direct-to-consumer, overseeing social, editorial, marketing, communications, and DTC brands. Under her leadership, the company launched initiatives such as Shine Away, an in-person experiential event; "The Bright Side" podcast; Solar, an in-house social branding agency; and Sunnie, a Gen Z-focused media and lifestyle brand. Reese's Book Club has selected more than 100 books, with over 90 reaching the New York Times Best Seller List and contributing to significant U.S. sales. Polo's expertise in building community-driven, direct-to-consumer ecosystems positioned her to lead the company.

As CEO, Polo oversees a diverse content slate. Hello Sunshine has released four films and nine series totaling 14 seasons, earning 112 award nominations and 10 major industry honors, including Emmys, Golden Globes, and Critics Choice awards. Notable film releases include "You're Cordially Invited," which attracted more than 50 million worldwide Prime Video viewers and ranks among Amazon MGM Studios' top three most-watched comedy films, and "Where the Crawdads Sing," the company's first theatrical release, which grossed nearly $200 million worldwide. Hello Sunshine produces "The Morning Show" for Apple TV+, as well as "The Last Thing He Told Me" and "Lucky" for the same platform.

Polo is recognized as a voice on the future of media and female-led storytelling, having spoken at industry forums such as the Variety Entertainment Summit at CES, where she discussed trends in audience behavior and business opportunities. At Hello Sunshine, Polo supports the shift toward greater female representation, influencing both the content audiences watch and perceptions of women's roles in media. She has been profiled in Thrive Global's Women Leadership series and featured in Forbes and Inc. Polo's expertise in digital strategy, brand building, and purpose-driven storytelling positions her as an authoritative figure in business, media, and culture.