Participant Media Names Christina Kounelias Executive Vice President, Worldwide Marketing & Communications

Participant Media Names Christina Kounelias Executive Vice President, Worldwide Marketing & Communications

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Christina Kounelias

LOS ANGELES (March 10, 2016) – Participant Media has named Christina Kounelias executive vice president, Worldwide Marketing and Communications, a newly created position at the company. The announcement was made today by Participant founder and chairman Jeff Skoll and CEO David Linde. Kounelias will report to Linde.
 
As EVP of Worldwide Marketing and Communications, Kounelias will lead Participant’s global strategy for all marketing and communications efforts. She will be responsible for shaping Participant’s pro-social narrative, as well as leveraging the company’s content through cross-platform initiatives. Kounelias will oversee all creative marketing efforts for film, media and promotions, corporate communications, events, audience engagement, and research. She will be based out of Participant’s offices beginning March 28.
 
Kounelias’ appointment is the latest executive addition to Linde’s senior leadership team. “Christina is a talented strategist and is well regarded within the industry for her creativity and proven track record of success across studios and institutions,” said Linde. “We couldn’t be happier that an executive of her caliber is joining Participant at such a dynamic moment for the company.”
 
"Participant is an incredible force in entertainment with a mission that pairs compelling content with positive social impact,” said Kounelias. “I'm honored and excited to work with Jeff, David and the Participant team to bring impact to life, and activate our own storytelling with memorable and lasting campaigns."
 
Kounelias comes to Participant from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where she was the first-ever chief marketing officer. While there, she oversaw all marketing, communications and digital media for the organization's global initiatives including The Oscars®, Academy Museum, and a year-round slate of programming. She also spearheaded a significant rebranding effort. Notably, the organization grew its social media presence to over 9.2 million followers and dramatically transformed its online user experience.
 
Prior to The Academy®, Kounelias held senior marketing and communications posts at Warner Bros., New Line, Fox Broadcasting and Miramax, working on award-winning campaigns for both independent films and tentpole franchises.
 
Participant’s recent successful run during the awards season culminated in three Academy Awards®, including the company’s first Best Picture win for Spotlight. The company’s 2016 film slate includes Peter Berg’s Deepwater Horizon (Lionsgate); J.S. Bayona’s A Monster Calls (Focus Features); Pablo Larrain’s Neruda; Derek Cianfrance’s The Light Between Oceans (DreamWorks Pictures/Disney); Denial starring Rachel Weisz, Tom Wilkinson, and Timothy Spall (Bleecker Street); Middle School, based on James Patterson’s best-seller series (CBS Films); Ric Roman Waugh’s Shot Caller; Alex Gibney’s Zero Days (Magnolia Pictures); Morgan Neville’s The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble (The Orchard); and Presenting Princess Shaw (Magnolia Pictures).
 
About Participant Media
Participant Media (http://www.participantmedia.com/) is a leading media company dedicated to entertainment that inspires and compels social change. Founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll, Participant combines the power of a good story well told with opportunities for viewers to get involved. Participant’s more than 70 films, including Spotlight, Contagion, Lincoln, The Help, He Named Me Malala, The Look of Silence, CITIZENFOUR, Food, Inc., and An Inconvenient Truth, have collectively earned 50 Academy Award® nominations and 11 wins, including Best Picture for Spotlight. Participant has also launched more than a dozen original series, including “Please Like Me,” Emmy® Award-winning “Hit Record On TV with Joseph Gordon-Levitt,” and “Fortitude,” for its television network, Pivot (http://www.pivot.tv/). Participant's digital hub, TakePart (http://www.TakePart.com), serves millions of socially conscious consumers each month with daily articles, videos and opportunities to take action. Follow Participant Media on Twitter at @Participant and on Facebook.
 
 Contact:

Jennifer St. Clair, Participant Media
jstclair@participantmedia.com       
310-550-5100
 
Susie Arons, Rubenstein Communications
sarons@rubenstein.com
212-843-8033