WarnerMedia named the executive team for its upcoming HBO Max streaming service that will work under Kevin Reilly and Sarah Aubrey, who named head of originals earlier this year.
Joining the team will be Joey Chavez as executive vice president of original drama; Jessie Henderson as executive vice president of original feature films; Jeniffer Kim as senior vice president of international originals; Suzanna Makkos as executive vice president of original comedy and animation, and Jennifer O’Connell as executive vice president of original non-fiction and kids.
Aubrey was named head of originals for the service in January. Reilly serves as chief content officer for HBO Max and president of cable networks TNT, TBS and truTV.
On the business operations and strategy group are: Eric Besner as senior vice president of business development and strategy; Sandra Dewey as president of business operations and production; Meredith Gertier as executive vice president of program strategy and planning (she will report to HBO programming president Casey Bloys); and Michael Quigley is executive vice president of content acquisitions and strategy.
“HBO Max is committed to delivering IP of the highest quality by closely collaborating with top talent to bring their ideas to life, and then strategically managing that content to build and sustain lasting cultural impact and value,” said Reilly. “I’m honored to work with this accomplished team of executives who have amassed an arsenal of our industry’s most prestigious awards, are innovative thinkers, and trusted partners in which the creative community can put their faith every single day.”
HBO Max will launch in Spring 2020, featuring programming centered around HBO, Warner Bros, New Line, DC Entertainment, CNN, TNT, TBS, truTV, The CW, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Crunchyroll, Rooster Teeth, Looney Tunes. It will have the rights to former NBC sitcom “Friends” when it launches, as well as other classic sitcoms like “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
HBO Max will also have a bevy of original content including four Greg Berlanti-produced films and two romantic comedies from Reese Witherspoon. Original series slated for the service include a “Dune” spinoff from Denis Villeneuve (who is also directing the big-screen reboot), the Ansel Elgort-starring “Tokyo Vice” and a “Gremlins” animated series.
On Wednesday, HBO Max ordered a sequel to former CW series “Gossip Girl.”