The Power 100

The list of the most powerful female executives in Hollywood, with criteria and our process for assembling this year’s rankings.

Since The Hollywood Reporter began publishing its Women in Entertainment issue more than a decade ago, a lot has changed for women, particularly women working in the entertainment industry. It’s no longer unusual to see a woman holding the reins of a multi-billion-dollar film or television studio. It has become routine to see a woman greenlighting high-profile movie projects or signing off on a 22-episode series order. A handful of women even hold the power to deliver the goods on opening weekend based solely on their acting ability and force of personality.

Yes, women are everywhere in the biz, there’s no denying it. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to stop recognizing the achievements of female executives, or that it’s time for women as individuals to stop mentoring those coming up through the ranks behind them.

The bottom line is that, much to the chagrin of 50% of its population, the world is not gender-blind. Although many women working in the industry resent being singled out simply because of a 50/50 chromosomal chance, we think it’s still worth celebrating when a woman has the talent and tenacity to rise to a lofty executive position in Hollywood. (No one, frankly, seems to mind the glare of the spotlight we shine on top talent under age 35 in our annual Next Generation issue — and isn’t age just as sensitive a subject in this town, where youth, beauty and glamour are all anyone’s really concerned with?)

Most interesting about the changes for women that have taken place during the past 12 years is how female executives who have ascended the industry ladder and remained on top are transcending the positions they occupy, becoming true icons of the business. While historians rattle off such names as Lew Wasserman and Bill Paley when defining legends of the past, there are many women poised to be included, along with their male counterparts, on the list of legends of the present. That’s a truly powerful proposition.

Click on Full Article to read the full list of 100 women.

1. Amy Pascal, vice chairman, Sony Pictures Entertainment; chairmain, Columbia Pictures
2. Stacey Snider, chairman, Universal Pictures
3. Nancy Tellem, president, CBS Entertainment
4. Sherry Lansing, chairman of the motion pcture group, Paramount Pictures
5. Gail Berman, president of entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Co.
6. Oprah Winfrey, chairman of Harpo Inc., Harpo Prods. Inc.
7. Nina Jacobson, president, Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group
8. Susan Lyne, president, ABC Entertainment
9. Dana Walden, president, 20th Century Fox Television
10. Judy McGrath, president, MTV Networks Music Group
11. Nikki Rocco, president, Universal Pictures Distribution
12. Michele Anthony, exec vp, Sony Music Entertainment
13. Julia Roberts, actress and head of Red Om Films
14. Carole Black, president and CEO, Lifetime Entertainment Services
15. Mary Parent, president of Production, Universal Pictures
16. Dawn Ostroff, president of Entertainment, UPN
17. Anne Sweeney, president, ABC Cable Networks Group and Disney Channel Worldwide
18. Laurie MacDonald, co-head, DreamWorks Motion Pictures Division
19. Dawn Taubin, president of domestic marketing, Warner Bros. Pictures
20. Helene Hahn, COO, DreamWorks SKG
21. Carolyn Strauss, exec vp Original Programming, HBO
22. Elizabeth Gabler, president, Fox 2000 Pictures
23. Meryl Poster, co-president of production, Miramax Films
24 Laura Ziskin, head of Laura Ziskin Prods.
25. Terry Press, head of marketing, DreamWorks SKG
26. Mindy Herman, president and CEO, E! Networks
27. Michelle Manning, co-president of production, Paramount Pictures
Karen Rosenfelt, co-president of production, Paramount Pictures
28. Pamela Levine, president of domestic theatrical marketing, 20th Century Fox
29. Laurie Younger, president, Buena Vista Worldwide Television Dist.
30. Sylvia Rhone, chairman and CEO, Elektra Entertainment Group
31. Helen Murphy, exec vp and CFO, Warner Music Group
32. Ann Daly, head of feature animation, DreamWorks SKG
33. Nancy Josephson, co-president, ICM
34. Shari Redstone, president, National Amusements Inc.
35. Sheila Nevins, exec vp original programming, HBO
36. Terry Curtin, head of marketing and distribution, Revolution Studios
37. Kathy Nelson, president of film music, Universal Music Group and Universal Pictures
38. Lia Vollack, president of worldwide music, Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group
39. Marcy Carsey, partner and exec producer, Carsey Werner Mandabach
Caryn Mandabach, partner, Carsey Werner Mandabach
40. Kathleen Kennedy, producer and partner, the Kennedy/ Marshall Co.; president, Producers Guild of America
41. Bonnie Hammer, pesident, Sci Fi Channel
42. Nancy Peretsman, managing director, Allen & Company Llc.
43. Marjorie Scardino, CEO, Pearson Plc.
44. Janice Marinelli, president, Buena Vista Television
45. Julie Greenwald, president, Island Records; Exec. VP, Island Def Jam Music Group
46. Diane Warren, founder, RealSongs
47. Sue Kroll, president of marketing, Warner Bros. Pictures International
Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, president of distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures International
48. Kathleen Dore, president, IFC Cos.
49. Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, partner and head of New York operations, Revolution Studios
50. Karen Kehela Sherwood, co-chairman, Imagine Films
51. Robin Russell, senior exec vp and general manager, Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment
52. Bernadine Brandis, exec vp, Walt Disney Motion Picture Group
53. Paula Wagner, producer and partner, Cruise/Wagner Prods.
54. Jane Rosenthal, producer and partner, Tribeca Prods.
55. J.K. Rowling, author, “Harry Potter” novel series
56. Jessica Reif Cohen, managing director, senior media and entertainment analyst, Merrill Lynch & Co.
57. Nancy Utley, president of marketing, Fox Searchlight Pictures
58. Roxanne Austin, president and COO, DirecTV
59 Stacey Sher, producer and partner, Double Feature Films
60. Jo Ann Ross, president of sales, CBS Television
61. Pat Mitchell, president and CEO, PBS
62. Angela Bromstead, exec vp, NBC Studios
63. Lauren Shuler Donner, producer and partner, The Donner’s Company
64. Cyma Zarghami, exec vp and general manager, Nickelodean
65. Risa Gertner, co-head motion picture literary department, CAA
Tory Metzger, motion picture agent, CAA
Beth Swofford, motion picture agent, CAA
66. Judy Girard, president, Food Network
67. Madonna, co-founder, Maverick Entertainment
68. Camela Galano, president, New Line International Releasing
69. Beth Berke, exec vp and CAO, Sony Pictures Entertainment
70. Tracey Jacobs, partner and co-head motion picture talent department, UTA
Sue Naegle, partner and co-head TV department, UTA
71. Suzanne Gluck, co-head of literary dept. and member of board of directors, WMA
Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, co-head of literary dept. and member of board of directors, WMA
72. Tracey Edmonds, president and CEO, Edmonds Entertainment Group
73. Risa Shapiro, senior vp motion picture department, ICM
Toni Howard, senior vp motion picture department, ICM
74. Cynthia Pett-Dante, managing partner, Brillstein-Grey Entertainment
75. Hylda Queally, senior vp motion picture dept., WMA
Susan Brooks, senior vp & head of TV business affairs, WMA
76. Marion Edwards, exec vp, 20th Cent. Fox TV Dis.
Daniela Welteke, exec vp intl. programming & co-production, head of operations, Fox World
77. Paula Madison, president and general manager, KNBC; L.A. regional general manager, NBC/Telemundo, NBC/Telemundo
78. Lucy Fisher, co-head, Red Wagon Entertainment
79. Kelley Avery, head, DreamsWorks Home Entertainment Worldwide
80. Judith McHale, president and COO, Discovery Communications, Inc.
81 Leslie Siebert, senior partner, co-head talent department, management board member, The Gersh Agency
82 Gale Anne Hurd, chairman, Valhalla Motion Pictures
83. Christina Norman, general manager, VH1
84. Mary-Kate Olsen, founder & principal, Dualstar Entertainment
Ashley Olsen, founder & principal, Dualstar Entertainment
85. Melanie Cook, partner, Ziffren, Brittenham, Branca, Fischer, Gilbert-Lurie & Stiffelman
86. Ruth Vitale, co-president, Paramount Classics
87. Geraldine Laybourne, chairman, CEO and founder, Oxygen Media
88. Lauren Zalaznick, president, Trio Networks; exec vp Network Enterprises, Universal TV Networks
89. Melissa Gilbert, president, Screen Actors Guild
90. Nina Shaw, founding partner, Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka & Finkelstein
91. Roberta Mell, exec vp marketing, Fox Broadcasting Co.
92. Sharon Morrill, exec vp, DisneyToon Studios
93. Christine Vachon, partner, Killer Films
94. Suzan Bymel, partner, Management 360
Evelyn O’Neill, partner, Management 360
95. Abbe Raven, executive vp and general manager, A&E Network
96. Jeanne Newman, partner, Hansen, Jacobsen, Teller, Hoberman, Newman & Warren
97. Victoria Riskin, president, WGA West
98. Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, CEO and founder, The Gotham Group
99. Penney Finkelman Cox, exec vp, Sony Pictures Animation
Sandra Rabins, exec vp, Sony Pictures Animation
100. Kathy Vrabeck, president, global publishing and brand management, Activision

Making the cut

In ranking women for the Power 100, we considered the following criteria:

* Each woman’s position within their company (to whom she reports, how many employees report to her and if she runs her own company or enjoys a stake in a larger corporation)
* Whether she has the power to greenlight projects. If not, how much influence she has with the person who has that power
* What she has achieved this year. While a proven track record is a consideration, no Power 100 woman was allowed to coast on past accomplishments.
* How much money she controls (and, by extension, how many people she hires or causes to be hired)
* Force of personality: how much impact she has on the industry around her

The purpose of this list is to highlight the achievements of female executives. A committee of editors and reporters determined the names and ranks after thorough field research and evaluation of hundreds of submissions. We don’t expect everyone to agree with us. In addition, because of a shift in executive positions and new names added to the list, some women might have dropped in ranking in the Power 100; that doesn’t necessarily reflect a loss of power. Rankings are based on each woman’s executive position at press time.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Thanks to Holiday Guy