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.
Oscar and Emmy-Winning Composer Kris Bowers Joins Barking Owl For Advertising, Branded Content
Music, audio post and sonic branding house Barking Owl has taken on exclusive representation of Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for advertising and branded content.
Bowers’ recent film scores include The Wild Robot and Bob Marley: One Love, alongside acclaimed past works such as The Color Purple (2023), King Richard and Green Book. His contributions to television are equally impressive, with scores for hit series like Bridgerton, When They See Us, Dear White People, and his Daytime Emmy Award-winning score for The Snowy Day.
In addition to his work as a composer, Bowers is a visionary director. He recently took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for his directorial work on The Last Repair Shop. The emotionally touching short film spotlights four of the people responsible for repairing the musical instruments used by students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Last Repair Shop reflects the positive influence that musical instruments have on the youngsters who play them, and the adults in the LAUSD free repair service who keep them working and in tune.
Barking Owl CEO Kirkland Alexander Lynch said of Bowers, “His artistry, diversity of style and depth of storytelling bring an unparalleled edge to the work we create for global brands. His presence on our roster reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and music in advertising.”
Johanna Cranitch, creative director, Barking Owl, added, “Kris first caught my attention when he released his record ‘Heroes + Misfits’ where he fused together his jazz sensibility with a deeply ingrained aptitude for melody, so beautifully.... Read More