Variety CEO Michelle โฃSobrino-Stearns toโฃ Depart after 28 Years, Brand Poised for Next โขChapter
LOS ANGELES – After a remarkable 28-year tenure, Michelleโ Sobrino-Stearns will step down as CEOโ of Variety,โฃ the leadingโฃ entertainment news brand, the company announced today. her departure โฃmarks the endโฃ of an era defined by significant โgrowth and innovationโข across Variety’s editorial, live events, โฃtelevision, and โconsumer businesses.
During โขSobrino-Stearns’ leadership,โค Variety launched a successful live events division, produced โEmmy-winning television content, established an authoritative content studio, and expanded its consumer offerings. โคThe brand navigated challenges โincluding the COVID-19 โฃpandemic and labor strikes, as well โขasโ local crises, emerging stronger and maintaining โขits position as the #1 entertainment news source.
“Over 13 years, weโ strengthened the leading editorial voiceโฆprovingโ Variety isโ thrivingโข and willโ remain the #1 entertainment newsโข brand,” Sobrino-Stearns wrote in a โfarewell message to โstaff.โ “Every one of โyouโ madeโ this possible by coming โtogether with aโ common purpose.”
The brand’s futureโค will be guided by a trio of existing leaders: Dea Lawrence, Co-President and Publisher; Cynthia Littleton,โ Co-Editor-in-Chief; and Ramin Setoodeh, Co-Presidentโ and Co-editor-in-Chief. โ
Sobrino-Stearnsโ expressed gratitude to her editorial andโฃ business partners, and also key members of theโ Variety team, โคincluding Steveโฃ Gaydos and donna Pennestri, acknowledging theirโ contributions to โฃthe brand’s success. She alsoโ shared aโฃ personal note, revealing she โฃmet her husband, Brian, at โขthe Cannes Filmโข Festival.
Sobrino-Stearns will embark onโ a โnew โคventure as a founding member of a fashion brand, beginning November 17. “Even as I take this next step, my heartโ will always belong to this remarkable company and toโฃ allโค of โyou,” she stated.
