In September 2015, she was promoted to President of the Lionsgate Television Group. She was then elevated to Chairman. Now, she’s seeking her next opportunity, but outside of the industry.
After some 23 years at the studio, Sandra Stern has agreed to relinquish her position, come March. She will remain involved as an outside consultant, but was quoted by Deadline as saying, “After more than 40 years, it’s time to see if there’s life after television.”
Stern rose through the ranks at Lionsgate Television Group, spearheading all business, legal, administrative and operational aspects of the division while directing its strategy, transactions and negotiations worldwide. She explored production, distribution and digital media strategies to continue a growth trajectory that took the Television Group from $8 million in revenue in 2000 to nearly $600 million by 2014.
“Stern has been instrumental in forging new relationships, business models and multiple window financing strategies for Lionsgate successes such as Orange is the New Black, Mad Men, Weeds, Nashville and Manhattan,” the company said.
Stern joined Lionsgate in 2003 as Executive Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs and was promoted to COO of the Television Group in 2005. Before joining Lionsgate, she served as Chief Operating Officer of Artists Television Group, where she helped create and structure the company and directed its business affairs, legal, finance, administrative and production operations. Prior to that, she worked for eight years — first as Senior Vice President, then as Executive Vice President — of the Columbia TriStar Television Group at Sony Pictures Entertainment.
From 1986 through 1991, Ms. Stern was Senior VP in charge of business affairs and international development at New World Entertainment, where she put together the first-ever international co-production for a U.S. broadcast network.
— With reporting by RBR+TVBR in Santa Monica, Calif.
