Roger Lynch
Streaming audio company Pandora has news that will be good news for shareholders looking for stability and a nod to the future digital distribution challenges.
Sling TV founder/CEO Roger Lynch has been tapped to serve as CEO and president, according to a release. Effective Sept. 18, Lynch will replace interim CEO Naveen Chopra, who will return to his role as the company’s chief financial officer. Pandora founder Tim Westergren had served as the company’s chief executive office from March 2016 until June 27, when he announced his intention to step down.
Additionally, Snap Inc. Chairman Michael Lynton will join Pandora’s board of directors, which is now under the leadership of board chair Roger Faxton.
Tim Leiweke led the search committee on behalf of Pandora’s board of directors.
Lynch’s background skews heavily toward TV and digital media, although he characterizes himself in the announcement as “a lifelong musician and exuberant music fan.”
Prior to Sling TV, Lynch served as executive vice president of advanced technologies for DISH Network and EchoStar Corporations. He also served as chairman and CEO of Video Networks International Ltd., a U.K.-based IPTV provider. Prior to VNIL, Lynch was president and CEO of Chello Broadband in Amsterdam, where he lead the rollout of consumer broadband services across Europe. Prior to that, Lynch was a technology investment banker with Morgan Stanley in New York, Silicon Valley and London. Lynch began his career as a member of the physics technical staff at Hughes Aircraft Co.
Lynch has an MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business and a bachelor’s degree from USC.
And the newest Pandora board member is currently the chairman of Snap Inc., a position he has held since 2016, after joining Snap Inc.’s board in 2013. Prior to that, Lynton served as CEO of Sony Entertainment from 2012 through February 2017, and as chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment for over 13 years. Prior to his work at Sony, he served as CEO of AOL Europe and president of both AOL International and Time Warner International, and as CEO of Penguin Publishing.
He has also served on the board of Ares Management, JAMDAT Mobile Inc., Samsonite International S.A. and Marvel Entertainment.
Lynton holds a B.A. in history and literature from Harvard College, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
