Sphere Entertainment Co. (NYSE: SPHR) announced that Jennifer Koester’s role at the company has been expanded to president and chief operating officer of Sphere. Koester most recently served as the company’s president, Sphere business operations, where she has played a critical role in leading the strategy and execution of all business aspects of Sphere, a next-generation entertainment medium in Las Vegas.
In this expanded role, Koester will continue working together with executive leadership, and across the broader Sphere team, to grow the business and optimize its operations. Koester will now also provide strategic oversight for Sphere Studios, the immersive content studio in Burbank dedicated to developing multi-sensory experiences exclusively for Sphere–including further developing the studios’ capabilities as a full-service production studio. She will continue to focus on maximizing venue utilization across a range of categories, such as original programming, attractions, concerts, residencies, and corporate and marquee events; driving strategic partnerships; delivering the best customer experience; and growing Sphere as a premium global brand.
“Since joining our team earlier this year, Jennifer’s contributions have had a significant impact,” said James Dolan, executive chairman and CEO, Sphere Entertainment. “We believe we are just scratching the surface of what is possible with Sphere, and her expertise will be essential as we continue to advance on our long-term vision for this next-generation entertainment medium.”
“I welcome the opportunity to take on this expanded role,” said Koester. “Across the Sphere organization we are focused on both bringing unique experiences to life in Las Vegas, and developing new experiences that will keep Sphere at the forefront of immersive entertainment. I look forward to continuing to work with our world-class team to grow our business and deliver on Sphere’s vision for the future of entertainment.”
A seasoned executive with 30 years of diverse experience in technology, media, and entertainment, Koester has expertise that spans across functional areas including business development, marketing, technology, legal, and product management. Throughout her career, she has leveraged her diverse expertise with a unique ability to integrate legal, technical, business, and operational matters. She joined Sphere Entertainment in February 2024 from Google, where she served as managing director, Americas strategic alliances, global partnerships. In this role, Koester was responsible for leading the overall relationship with Google’s most strategic partners to drive greater incremental value across Google’s products and services. She also previously served as director, telecommunications and video distributors, global partnerships at Google, where she was a key contributor to product strategy and roadmaps that delivered new revenue opportunities, including development and monetization of advertising product lines. Her experience prior to Google includes serving as SVP of advanced advertising product development, data analytics and ad operations at Cablevision, as well as various legal positions.
Koester received a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law and a B.S. in management information systems from Binghamton University.
“A Different Man” Surprisingly Triumphs At Gotham Awards
In a surprise that stunned the audience of Hollywood’s first big awards-season bash, “A Different Man,” a dark comedy about doppelgängers, deformity and authenticity in acting, won best feature film at the 34th Gotham Awards on Monday night. Much can be unpredictable at the Gotham Awards, which uses small juries of insiders and film industry veterans to pick nominees and winners. But as the “A Different Man” ensemble, including Sebastian Stan and Adam Pearson, took the stage, writer-director Aaron Schimberg was in obvious disbelief. “I don’t think I’m the only person in this room who’s totally stunned,” said Schimberg. “Considering the other nominees, I thought it would be hubris to prepare a speech.” At a starry Gothams that drew Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet and Angelina Jolie, most were expecting triumph for Sean Baker’s “Anora,” a comedy about a sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch. It came in the lead nominee, the Cannes Palme d’Or winner, and maybe a top best-picture contender at the Oscars, but went home empty-handed. Instead, the night belonged to the A24 release “A Different Man,” which stars Stan as a man with facial deformities who’s healed of them. He’s then upstaged by the character played by Pearson, who genuinely has neurofibromatosis, a condition that covers much of his face with benign skin tumors. The Gothams aren’t an Oscar bellwether, though several of its recent top winners – including last year’s winner “Past Lives,” as well as “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Nomadland” – have gone on to be nominated for best picture at the Academy Awards, with “Everything Everywhere” and “Nomadland” winning. Whether any of the winners Monday night —... Read More