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Maria Weaver

Strategy & Operations Executive | Global Transformation Leader | Digital Innovation | Brand Builder | Former- Warner Music / Comcast / HBO | Keynote Speaker | Advisor & Board Member

Professional Background

Maria Weaver is a distinguished senior entertainment executive, renowned for her remarkable ability to transform businesses into market leaders within the entertainment industry. Holding a wealth of knowledge and experience, she has carved a niche for herself as a visionary leader. In her most recent role as the Global President at Warner Music Experience (WMX), Maria demonstrated her exceptional skills in overseeing significant profit and loss (P&L) growth, unifying global acquisitions, and rebranding the organization to seize new market opportunities arising from emerging trends in music and entertainment.

Throughout her career, Maria has consistently exhibited her expertise in digital transformation, brand marketing, content development, and technology integration. Her innovative approach combines creative flair with solid business acumen, paving the way for impactful strategies that foster growth. Maria's forward-thinking mindset and results-driven attitude have not only benefited the organizations she has led but also shaped the broader landscape of the entertainment industry. Her willingness to adapt to a continuously evolving market has been critical in her approach to leading high-performing teams and ensuring they excel in delivering forward-thinking solutions.

In addition to her prominent role at WMX, Maria has held a variety of high-impact positions at leading companies, including her tenure as the Global Chief Marketing Officer at Comcast Advertising, where she steered the strategic direction of brands like Effectv and FreeWheel. Her leadership extended to the role of Senior Vice President, where she managed National Advertising Sales and Marketing, further showcasing her versatility and expertise in the advertising domain.

Maria's career is further distinguished by her roles at Interactive One, where she held multiple positions, culminating in her appointment as the Senior Vice President of Integrated Marketing. Her diverse skill set in brand marketing and strategic communications has propelled her to the forefront of the industry, as has her experience in high-stakes environments like HBO and Showtime Networks.

Education and Achievements

Maria Weaver holds a Bachelor's Degree in Communication and Media Studies from Pace University. This educational foundation provided her with the essential skills required for a successful career in the entertainment industry, equipping her with the ability to communicate effectively across various media platforms. Furthermore, she pursued a Master of Professional Studies in Design Management at Pratt Institute, where she deepened her understanding of integrating design principles with management strategies. This combination of communication and design management studies has empowered Maria to craft campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences, ensuring brand messaging is both innovative and impactful.

Throughout her illustrious career, Maria has been recognized for her contributions to the entertainment and marketing sectors. She has been named on Billboard’s Power List and recognized as one of the Most Influential Women in Music, cementing her status as a key player in the industry. Additionally, Maria has been honored at Variety's Women of Impact Awards, further showcasing the esteem in which she is held among her peers.

Maria's innovative approach and successful branding campaigns have garnered numerous accolades, including Telly awards that highlight excellence in video and television production. Her skill set is not just limited to one genre or form of media; it extends across various segments of the entertainment industry, positively impacting a multitude of brands and networks.

Notable Achievements

  • Global President, WMX (Warner Music Group): Spearheaded initiatives that resulted in remarkable P&L growth and rebranding of the organization, consolidating its position in the music industry and enhancing its global presence.
  • Global Chief Marketing Officer, Comcast Advertising: Pivotal in transforming Comcast's advertising strategies, optimizing brand engagement, and integrating advanced technological solutions for an enhanced customer experience.
  • SVP of Integrated Marketing at Interactive One: Demonstrated exceptional foresight and strategic leadership, enabling successful marketing initiatives that aligned with industry trends and engaged target audiences effectively.
  • Recognition and Awards: Featured prominently on Billboard’s esteemed Power List, acknowledged as one of the Most Influential Women in Music, and celebrated at Variety's Women of Impact Awards.

As Maria Weaver continues to explore new opportunities, she remains steadfast in her commitment to driving success and growth within dynamic companies. Her rich professional history is not only impressive due to the positions she has held but also as an example of impactful leadership and innovative thinking within the constantly e

Highlights

Jun 27 · linkedin

My theme song for today.... ROAR, by Katy Perry

When I joined Warner four years ago, my mission was to transform a legacy distribution business (WEA) and several global acquisitions into one cohesive company and brand.  I am proud I led the team that launched WMX.  Our goals were clear: build profitable, transparent businesses for our artists by earning, not claiming their rights, create engaging fan experiences to boost loyalty, engagement, and monetization opportunities, and ensure we were present wherever fans are with powerful creativity for brands to connect with our artists and fans. We doubled down on talent, creativity, and commerce. And working as a team, WMX delivered year-over-year revenue growth, grew the artist roster, and expanded our services and profitability.

This past January, with those goals achieved and new leadership at the helm of WMG, I decided I would work to transition the business and prepare for the next phase.  We worked successfully to sell the WMX media business, including Uproxx and HipHopDX, to one of the original founders and laid the groundwork to sell other assets. And, a few weeks ago, I shared with my team that it was time for me to move on to new challenges beyond WMX.

I am immensely proud of the WMX team.  We have built businesses for Ed Sheeran, from merch to hot sauce; Melanie Martinez, from sold-out perfume to sold-out shoe collections; incredible Green Day collaborations; and more Grateful Dead license deals than our competitors. We have supported iconic artists including Jack Harlow, Lizzo, Janelle Monáe, Burna Boy, My Chemical Romance, Cardi B, Dua Lipa, Saweetie, Korn, Bruno Mars, System Of A Down, Jennifer Lopez, and many more—over 150 artists on the WMX roster. We launched three WMX FAST channels across multiple platforms, hosted Warner’s first New Front featuring Megan Thee Stallion, collaborated with Toyota, H&R Block, Amazon, McDonald's, Honda, and, others to authentically connect their brands with our fans. We also leveraged our award-winning WMX creative studio to produce branded content and original docu-series, including the critically acclaimed Iconic Records featuring Notorious B.I.G.

From the Grammy’s to Cannes to CES to SXSW and every retail/licensing show in between, I feel privileged to have led a team that showed up with entrepreneurial spirit at scale, powered by creativity and leading digital capabilities.  Now that I have driven growth and navigated challenges at WMX, I am energized to take on something new.  For the first time in a long while, I can live anywhere and pursue anything. I’ve proven my ability to build and lead profitable businesses and teams around the world, big and small, at the speed of culture and technology.  Looking forward to new adventures and endless possibilities!

Apr 24 · linkedin

Love it when a plan comes together!! Congratulations Jarret Myer!

Related Questions

How did Maria Weaver develop her expertise in digital transformation within the entertainment industry?
What strategies did Maria Weaver implement as Global President of WMX to achieve significant P&L growth?
In what ways has Maria Weaver's education at Pace University and Pratt Institute influenced her approach to brand marketing?
What insights has Maria Weaver gained from her extensive leadership roles at Comcast and Interactive One?
How does Maria Weaver continue to impact the entertainment industry after her successful tenure at Warner Music Group?
Maria Weaver
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Location

New York, New York, United States