Christina Kounelias

Biography

As executive vice president of Worldwide Marketing and Communications, Christina Kounelias oversees Participant Media's global strategy for all marketing and communications efforts, in line with the company’s mission to create entertainment that inspires social change.

She is responsible for leveraging the company’s content through cross-platform initiatives, shaping the company’s pro-social narrative, and elevating the Participant brand. Kounelias oversees creative marketing efforts for film, media and promotions, corporate communications, events, audience engagement, and research.

Prior to Participant, she served as the first-ever chief marketing officer at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. At the Academy, she oversaw all marketing, communications and digital media for the organization's global initiatives including The Oscars ®, Academy Museum, and a year-round slate of programming, and educational outreach. Kounelias also spearheaded a significant rebranding effort. Under her leadership, the organization grew its social media presence to over 9.2 million followers and dramatically transformed its online user experience.

Before joining the Academy, Kounelias served as executive vice president of Marketing at Warner Bros/New Line Cinema. She worked at New Line for 17 years and held senior posts in marketing and PR during her tenure there – highlights of which include award-winning campaigns for Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Prior to New Line, Kounelias worked at the Fox Broadcasting Company, and Miramax Films, where she established their PR department. Additionally, she has worked on campaigns for an array of independent and blockbuster films including Sex and the City, Wedding Crashers, Hairspray, Little Children, About Schmidt, A History of Violence, the Austin Powers and Rush Hour franchises, Boogie Nights, Cinema Paradiso, My Left Foot, and Seven.