Former HBO Max exec Sandra Dewey has joined Media Res, the studio behind the Apple TV+ shows The Morning Show and Pachinko, as chief operating officer.
Dewey earlier served as president of business operations and production for then-WarnerMedia’s streaming service HBO Max (now Max after merger with Discovery to create Warner Bros. Discovery). In her new role, Dewey will help steer Media Res’ expansion across scripted and unscripted content, both domestically and internationally.
Her hire follows Jeff Zucker’s RedBird IMI taking a stake in Media Res — which was founded by former HBO executive Michael Ellenberg — as the former CNN chief uses the Redbird IMI investment to grow his scripted business in the U.S. and abroad, and expand the studio’s unscripted and film divisions. Media Res launched in 2017 as a premium independent studio, pursing the types of shows that Ellenberg was interested in while running drama at HBO.
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“I have had an exciting and extensive career, so I have been extremely particular about what would come next. The opportunity to work with Michael Ellenberg and Media Res hit a bullseye for me which proved irresistible – a dynamic growth business with an attitude and a track record. The company has a report card of success with both material and talent that defies industry trends. In this rapidly changing media landscape, Media Res is poised to flex its strengths and show what it can do, and I can’t wait,” Dewey said in a statement.
While with then HBO Max, Dewey oversaw the business affairs, production and operations teams for the cable networks TNT, TBS, and truTV, which, together with HBO Max, included all scripted and unscripted content, features, documentaries, animation, and children’s programming.
“We are thrilled to welcome Sandra into the fold at this exciting moment in the company’s evolution. Sandra’s wide-ranging strategic and operational expertise is matched by her fierce intellect and graceful leadership style. We are blessed to have her join us in this vital role for Media Res,” Ellenberg said in his own statement.
