Jesse Sisgold

As President and Chief Operating Officer of Skydance Media, Jesse Sisgold helps to set and execute the overall strategy and growth plan for the company, while managing key operations across all units. He also oversees animation production, business and legal affairs, corporate development, human resources, interactive entertainment, international distribution and co-productions, and television production for the company, and manages relationships across all distribution and co-financing partners. In 2020, Jesse played a key role in the formation of Skydance Animation Madrid following the acquisition of Ilion Animation Studios, creating one studio across two continents with the expanded creative capability, scale and leverage to deliver on the studio's goal of becoming an industry-leading producer of high-end animated films and television series. In 2019, Jesse was instrumental in raising $275 million of equity capital and forming strategic partnerships with Redbird Capital and CJ E&M. The partnership with CJ ENM grows Skydance's global television business and provides a foothold in the booming South Korean entertainment market. In 2018, Jesse raised $100 million of equity capital and formed a broad strategic partnership with Tencent Holdings to bolster Skydance's footprint in China for its film and interactive divisions. In 2017, he facilitated a multi-year renewal of Skydance's first-look production and global distribution deal with Paramount. In 2016, Jesse took a leadership role in Skydance's first acquisition - of game developer The Workshop Entertainment - to form Skydance Interactive, as well as in securing a $700 million recapitalization to enable continued growth and expansion. Jesse was honored in Variety's Dealmakers Impact Report each of the last five years (2015-2019). Before joining Skydance, Jesse served as the managing shareholder of his own boutique entertainment and venture capital law firm and launched the graphic novel and augmented reality company Anomaly Productions. He began his career at Heller Ehrman LLP. Jesse is a member of the Television Academy and the Paley Media Council. He also serves as a board member of UCLA's Institute of Environment and Sustainability, Conservation International's Global Leadership Council, and Angels at Risk. He earned his J.D. with honors from the University of California, Hastings and his B.A. with honors from the University of California, San Diego.