Global producer network Makers has brought Diane Jackson aboard as VP global production, a newly created position.
Jackson brings a world-class combination of business leadership, production operations, creative storytelling, and a vast community to Makers. She joins Makers from Meta, where she most recently served as director, global head of production, creative and experiential.
In her newly created role, Jackson will partner with Makers founder Sumit Ajwani and managing partner Paul Curtin to accelerate growth, expand the company’s differentiated offering, evolve its culture of collaboration, and contribute to its vision to elevate the role of producers.
Ajwani, who launched Makers in 2016, said: “Diane is a force, someone who fearlessly breaks barriers and pushes the boundaries of what producers can accomplish. She’s a champion of ideas and of production being a genuine partner to creativity. Impact is what drives Diane, making her the right partner to help take our mission to the next level.”
Previously in her career, Jackson was chief production officer at global advertising agency DDB, where she built a rich legacy of inspiring and developing best-in-class production teams, working on the front lines to design innovative, high-impact brand stories, and sustaining the agency’s growth and industry profile throughout her 14-year tenure.
Now Jackson is tapping into her entrepreneurial spirit, joining Makers in its most expansive growth chapter. The company recently launched the largest global producer network for global brands, unifying 11,000+ producers and fixers in 100+ countries to collaborate and execute ideas anywhere in the world.
“I’ve dedicated my career to being a producer and enabling others in their pursuit of this path. To join a company that is grounded in elevating and championing producers as creative problem solvers is the culmination of all my work leading up to this point,” said Jackson. “I was looking for a growth opportunity that would allow me to do something different. When I met Sumit and the team, there was an immediate connection to the Makers vision and their producer-led model. I’m reinvigorated.”
Throughout her career, Jackson has worked with global and national brands including FCA Jeep, Mars Wrigley, McDonald’s, Miller Lite, Molson Coors, State Farm, and Ram Trucks. Her impact has been recognized at major award shows including D&AD, Cannes, Clios, and the London International Awards. She has served multiple times on the AICP Curatorial Panel at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and was the recipient of the Institute Practitioner in Advertising (London)–Distinction in Advertising award. She was also the first producer ever to receive the Fastules, Sharpe, Yovetich Leadership Award. Jackson has served on the Cannes Lions Film Craft jury twice and as the Production & Postproduction and Music Video Jury president of the London International Awards. She was celebrated by the Stevie Awards for Women in Business in 2018 and received a Gold in Women of the Year–Marketing, PR and Advertising category, which was the most highly contested category of the entire show. A mentor and philanthropy advocate, Jackson has worked with Off The Street Club in Chicago, Free Spirit Media, and Dress for Success.
SMPTE elects board officers, regional governors
SMPTEยฎ,the home of media professionals, technologists, and engineers, has revealed the board officers and regional governors who will serve terms beginning in January 2025.
Three new officers--Richard Welsh as SMPTE president, Eric Gsell as SMPTE executive VP, and Polly Hickling as SMPTE Education VP--have been elected for a two-year term from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2026. One SMPTE officer, Lisa Hobbs, will be continuing her service as SMPTE secretary and treasurer for another two-year term. Additionally, Raymond Yeung will be stepping into the role of standards VP on Jan. 1, 2025.
โSMPTEโs membership has spoken,โ said SMPTE interim executive director Sally-Ann DโAmato. โThese officers have been tasked with an important responsibility, one each of them is prepared to tackle head-on. These next two years are looking bright for SMPTE!โ
In addition to the officers, 10 regional governors were elected by the Society to serve two-year 2025-2026 terms.
These include the following regional governors, re-elected to continue their service:
Asia-Pacific Region Governor
Tony Ngai, Society of Motion Imaging Ltd.
EMEA - Central & South America Region Governor
Fernando Bittencourt, FB Consultant
United Kingdom Region Governor
Chris Johns, Sky UK.
USA - Central Region Governor
William T. Hayes, Consultant
USA - Eastern Region Governor
Dover Jeanne Mundt, Riedel Communications
USA - Western Region Governor
Jeffrey F. Way, Open Drives
Also elected were four newcomers to the SMPTE Board:
Canada Region Governor
Jonathan Jobin, Grass Valley
USA - Hollywood Region Governor
Allan Schollnick, Voxx... Read More