Movers and Shakers: Entertainment

by Pamela Weinsaft (New York City)

In these tumultuous times, who could blame a gal who wants to escape for a little while into the nonsense that is “reality” television or to go a live concert to sing cheesy hair band songs of her youth at the top of her lungs? Here are some of the top women in Entertainment who make these guilty pleasures possible:

1. Carol A. Melton, Executive Vice President for Global Public Policy, Time Warner Inc.

Since 2005, Carol A. Melton has overseen Time Warner‘s four public policy offices around the world in addition to advising the company’s business units on policies related to operational issues. Named by Washingtonian magazine as one of its “Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Washington in 2006, Ms. Melton started her career as a lawyer in the Washington, DC office of Hogan & Hartson. She moved into the public sector for a time, first as Assistant General Counsel of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and then as Legal Advisor to the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission for cable, broadcast and other mass media issues.

She joined the Time Warner family in 1987 as Washington Counsel for Warner Communications Inc. and served as Vice President for Law and Public Policy until 1997. From 1997 to 2005, Ms. Melton was Executive Vice President for Government Relations, overseeing policy issues for all of Viacom‘s business operations.

Ms. Melton earned a B.A. degree with honors from Wake Forest University, an M.A. in Journalism and Communications from the University of Florida, and a J.D. with honors from the Washington College of Law at American University.

2. Christine M. McCarthy, Executive Vice President, Corporate Finance and Real Estate and Treasurer, The Walt Disney Company

Christine M. McCarthy is responsible for the company-wide management of various corporate finance functions, as well as the global real estate organization and portfolio management. Prior to joining The Walt Disney Company, Ms. McCarthy was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Imperial Bancorp from 1997 to 1999. From 1981 to 1996, she held various finance and planning positions at First Interstate Bancorp. In 1993, she was elected Executive Vice President in Finance.

Ms. McCarthy earned a B.S degree in Biology at Smith College and an MBA in Marketing and Finance from The Anderson School at UCLA.

3. Susan C. Gordon, Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer, CBS Corporation

A Certified Public Accountant by training is responsible for the controllership and financial reporting activities for CBS Corporation and its subsidiaries. After joining Viacom in 1981, she has held positions of increasing responsibility, including of the Viacom Broadcast Group, Vice President of Internal Audit, Chief Financial Officer of Madison Square Garden Controller and Chief Accounting Officer including Vice President and Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of Viacom prior to the company’s split. Prior to her employment with Viacom, Gordon was an auditor with the accounting firm of KPMG Peat Marwick.

A Certified Public Accountant, Gordon holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Lake Forest College and attended the master’s in accounting program at New York University’s Graduate School of Business.

4. Judy McGrath, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, MTV Networks

Ms. McGrath was named Chairman and CEO of MTV Networks in July 2004. Prior to that appointment, Ms. McGrath was the MTV Networks Group President, responsible for MTV, MTV2, VH1, Country Music Television, Logo and COMEDY CENTRAL.

She joined Warner Amex Satellite Entertainment Company (WASEC), MTV Networks’ predecessor company, in 1981 as Copywriter, On-Air Promotions, MTV. She subsequently moved up the ranks and became Editorial Director, MTV; Executive Vice President and Creative Director, MTV; and then President, MTV.

Ms .McGrath is a graduate of Cedar Crest College. She is on the board of the New York City Ballet, the McCarton School and Rock the Vote, and serves on the advisory board of LifeBeat.

5. Kathy Willard, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Live Nation

In September 2007, Kathy Willard was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Live Nation, Inc., a Fortune 1000 company that promotes or produces live events including music concerts, theatrical shows, and specialized motor sports events. Ms. Willard has worked for the company and its predecessors since 1998, where she most recently held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer at Live Nation. Prior to joining Live Nation, Ms. Willard spent three years as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of a large Oklahoma ophthalmology service business and then two years as Director of Finance for Bailey Network Management, a division of ABB. Ms. Willard began her career as an auditor with Arthur Andersen in 1988.