Michael Riley Named General Manager, Ellen Digital Ventures
Riley will be responsible for leading the strategic vision and management of Ellen’s digital business with full financial responsibility – including all owned and operated sites, all related social media activity from “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” EDV’s digital content studio, and digital games business.
“Michael is a smart, thoughtful and strategic leader,” said Craig Hunegs, President, Warner Bros. Digital Networks and President, Business and Strategy, Warner Bros. Television Group. “His strong track record evolving businesses and digital expertise make him an invaluable part of Ellen and Warner Bros. Digital Networks, and we’re thrilled to have him join the team.”
Riley added, “I’m thrilled to join the Ellen team and to be working with Warner Bros. Digital Networks at such an innovative time for the business. The media landscape is right on the cusp of digital content convergence and Ellen’s brand continues to lead the way.”
Riley brings over a decade of senior management experience to the position, formerly as President of the millennial network ABC Family, currently known as Freeform, with the Walt Disney Co. Under Riley’s leadership, the channel became cable TV’s No. 1 network in primetime among young women for the first time in its history; powered by groundbreaking original content, innovative digital distribution, and a social media juggernaut smashing worldwide engagement records.
Most recently as President & CEO of KCETLink Media Group, Riley led the successful transformation of the public media organization into a digital content hub and storyteller for Southern California, creating award-winning multi-platform content, generating strong ratings growth, and greatly expanding its national digital footprint.
Riley, an accomplished international media executive, began his media career with Turner Broadcasting in Europe, initially with the business development and corporate strategy team launching Turner TV brands and licensing digital content across Europe. He later served as Senior Vice President and General Manager for Turner brands in that region.
Riley holds an MBA from London Business School in the UK and is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario in Canada.