Visionary leaders across leading companies bring significant expertise and perspective
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2024
DENVER — Today, Syndeo Institute at The Cable Center announced that its Board of Directors has elected eight new board members. These esteemed leaders bring a vast breadth of knowledge, expertise, and perspectives to Syndeo Institute’s board. As highly regarded innovators and changemakers, their collective experience and passion for the industry represent Syndeo Institute’s vision for a modern hub of collaboration, education, events, and leadership development.
“The appointment of our new board members reinforces our commitment to paving the way for future leaders,” said Michael Willner, Syndeo Institute’s Board Chair and President and CEO of Penthera Partners, Inc. “As we come together to exchange ideas, we are excited to harness their cutting-edge insights to inspire and empower the next generation of intrapreneurs and innovators.”
Newly Appointed Syndeo Institute Board Members
Paul Broadhurst, President, Founder, and CEO, Technetix Group Ltd.
With over 35 years of experience in the global broadband industry, Broadhurst is a leader in developing innovative technology solutions. He founded Technetix in 1990 and has since developed extensive global networks within Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia Pacific. He has also been inducted into the class of 2020 Cable TV Pioneers. Paul is a member of the board of the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers and chairman of the Technetix Strategic Advisory Board.
Justin Connolly, President of Platform Distribution, The Walt Disney Company
An industry leader with over two decades of expertise in media distribution strategies, Connolly brings extensive industry knowledge to the board. He oversees all third-party media sales efforts for distribution and affiliate-related business operations for all of The Walt Disney Company’s direct-to-consumer services and linear media networks, and content sales agreements for Disney Entertainment and ESPN. Throughout his tenure at Disney, he has played a pivotal role in the global expansion of Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Star+ and Hotstar, and has negotiated transformative carriage agreements to bring the company’s unrivaled content to the widest audience possible. Connolly also sits on the Board of Directors for the Women in Cable Telecommunications Network and The Honor Foundation.
Rhonda Crichlow, Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer, Charter Communications
Crichlow is responsible for the overall strategic development and implementation of Charter’s diversity and inclusion initiatives. She also oversees Charter’s Community Impact function, focused on strategic philanthropic investments and employee volunteerism initiatives. Crichlow joined Charter from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, where she served as Vice President, Head of U.S. Diversity and Inclusion, and President of the Novartis U.S. Foundation.
Suzanne Foy, Vice President of Customer Experience Operations, Strategy & Process, Cox Communications
Foy has played a vital role in the evolution of Cox Customer Care in her 25-year career at the company. Foy and her team drive CX Operations strategy and execution and her contributions have ranged from launching Cox’s first Ecare online support and knowledge management solutions to redefining the billing experience and tripling paperless billing adoption. She is also a past member and Executive Co-Chair of Syndeo Institute’s C5 group.
Rob Kennedy, Former President and Co-CEO, C-SPAN
Rob Kennedy served as C-SPAN’s President and Co-CEO from April 2012 until his retirement in May 2024, where he oversaw strategy and operations at the nation’s only public affairs cable television network. Prior to this role, he served as C-SPAN’s President and Co-COO, and as C-SPAN’s top financial officer since 1987. He also served on the C-SPAN Board of Directors, and currently serves on the boards of the Emma Bowen Foundation and the CTAM Education Foundation. Kennedy and C-SPAN Co-CEO Susan Swain received the Vanguard Award for Programmers in 2004 and were inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Cable Hall of Fame in 2019.
Scott Miller, President of Networks and Streaming Distribution, Warner Bros. Discovery
Miller’s extensive background in the cable industry includes leadership roles overseeing distribution strategies for linear and streaming networks. He leads all aspects of Warner Bros. Discovery’s distribution business for its robust suite of linear networks, including CNN, TBS, TNT, Discovery, TLC, HGTV, Food Network, HBO, Cinemax, as well as its direct-to-consumer streaming services, including Max and discovery+. Miller previously served as Executive Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs for WarnerMedia Sales & Distribution and Executive Vice President for Content Negotiations and Strategy and Deputy General Counsel for Turner Content Distribution.
Guillermo Ponce, Senior Vice President South-Central Markets, Liberty Latin America
With over 30 years of experience in telecommunications, Ponce brings a wealth of knowledge to Syndeo Institute’s board. In his current role, he is responsible for Liberty Latin America’s operations in Costa Rica and guiding broader business development efforts across Central and South America. Prior to his current role, he held executive leadership roles with VTR in Chile. Guillermo is a member of several boards, including: Cable & Wireless Panama; ICARE, the most prominent management organization in Chile; and 3Ie, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute at University Federico Santa Maria.
Tony Werner, Independent Board Member & Advisor
Werner is a long-term industry leader and technologist. He was CTO and then President of Technology and Product Experience at Comcast from 2007 to 2023. Prior to Comcast, Werner served as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Liberty Global, Inc., where he led the company’s global strategy for video, voice and data services. Tony has also held senior management positions with Aurora Networks, Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI)/AT&T Broadband, and Rogers Communications.
In addition to appointing new board members, the Board of Directors voted to elevate Christine Whitaker, Division President, Comcast Central Division, to Syndeo Institute’s Executive Committee.
“We’re honored to welcome our new members to Syndeo Institute’s board,” said Diane Christman, Syndeo Institute President and CEO. “Each new member brings unique insights that will undoubtedly contribute to our ongoing efforts to define what comes next in our dynamic field.”
Syndeo Institute Executive Committee Board Members
- Michael Willner, Chair, Chairman & CEO, Penthera Partners, Inc.
- Jerald Kent, Chair Emeritus, Chairman & CEO, Cequel III
- Nomi Bergman, Vice Chair, Senior Executive, Advance
- Jeffrey DeMond, Past Vice Chair, Founder, Chairman, & CEO, Archtop Fiber
- David Van Valkenburg, Secretary, Chairman, Balfour Associates, Inc.
- Bridget Baker, CEO, Baker Media, Inc.
- Chris Lammers, COO Emeritus, CableLabs
- Paul Maxwell, Media-Max Advisors
- Christine Whitaker, Division President, Comcast Central Division
Syndeo Institute Board of Directors
- Amy Blair, SVP & Chief People Officer, Liberty Global, Inc.
- Lou Borrelli, CEO, NCTC
- Paul Broadhurst, President, Founder, and CEO, Technetix Ltd.
- Ann Carlsen, Founder & CEO, Carlsen Resources, Inc.
- Justin Connolly, President of Platform Distribution, The Walt Disney Company
- Rhonda Crichlow, SVP & Chief Diversity Officer, Charter Communications
- Enrique Cusco, CEO & Board Chair, Olé Communications
- David Fellows, Past Chair, Cable TV Pioneers
- Suzanne Foy, VP of Customer Experience Operations, Strategy, & Process, Cox
- Nilda Gumbs, COO, NCTA
- Henry Hoberman, Chief Legal Officer, A+E Networks
- Yvette Kanouff, Partner, JC2 Ventures
- Rob Kennedy, Former President and Co-CEO, C-SPAN
- Wonya Lucas, Corporate Board Member, Hallmark Media
- Kyle McSlarrow, Retired SVP, Customer Experience, Comcast
- Scott Miller, President of Networks and Streaming Distribution, Warner Bros. Discovery
- Pragash Pillai, Principal, Xtend Broadband Partners
- Guillermo Ponce, Senior Vice President South-Central Markets, Liberty Latin America
- Clint Stinchcomb, President & CEO, Curiosity
- Italia Commisso Weinand, EVP-Programming & HR, Mediacom
- Tony Werner, Independent Board Member & Advisor
About Syndeo Institute at The Cable Center
Syndeo Institute at The Cable Center is a modern hub for leadership development, education, and collaboration. Here, leaders come together—in person, online, and within organizations—to exchange ideas and advance innovation. An educational nonprofit based in Denver, Colorado, Syndeo Institute is home to Intrapreneurship Academy, a series of intensive leadership and innovation courses for connectivity, media, entertainment, and technology industry standouts. Syndeo Institute celebrates the contributions of industry trailblazers through the Cable Hall of Fame and Barco Library––the world’s largest collection of industry archives, historical objects, and oral histories.
Visit syndeoinstitute.org for more information.
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Media Contact
Megan Duggan
Primavera Group for Syndeo Institute at The Cable Center
Email: megan@theprimaveragroup.com
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