General Manager, Entertainment

About APPLY

APPLY serves as the Agentic Customer Experience (ACx) partner for leading consumer and entertainment brands globally. We merge deep expertise across Retail, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Sports, and Media with advanced AI-driven capabilities, crafting and executing transformative solutions that align customer experience visions with commercial outcomes. Our client portfolio includes prominent names such as Arc'teryx, NFL, Lululemon, and Kraft Heinz.

Located in North America, this role supports hybrid and remote work arrangements and requires collaboration across Eastern, Pacific, and Greenwich Mean Time zones.

Role Overview

The General Manager will spearhead the global revenue generation and commercial stewardship of the Entertainment vertical, including sectors like media, streaming, gaming, live events, and sports. This role demands crafting and implementing strategic market approaches in concert with regional leadership, while securing and nurturing executive-level client partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive global revenue objectives for the Entertainment sector and coordinate go-to-market plans with regional managing directors.
• Establish and communicate transparent annual and multi-year revenue forecasts to the CEO.
• Pinpoint and prioritize lucrative opportunities within media, streaming, gaming, live events, sports, and related markets.
• Maintain and expand high-level client relationships to foster pipeline growth and position APPLY as the trusted transformation partner.
• Act as executive sponsor for key Entertainment client projects and strengthen alliances, notably with partners such as Google Cloud.
• Define and lead the operational model for the Entertainment market, integrating commercial, delivery, and capability teams effectively.
• Collaborate with regional directors to align strategic plans with localized execution, clearing obstacles and amplifying results.
• Guide resource allocation to emphasize Entertainment growth initiatives.
• Mentor and cultivate a dynamic team culture focused on client value, growth, and continuous innovation.
• Represent the Entertainment vertical in executive leadership discussions influencing organizational direction and investments.
• Establish APPLY's authoritative voice in the Entertainment arena via speaking engagements, panel participation, and media contributions at major industry events.
• Maintain authoritative knowledge of trends such as streaming economics, audience segmentation, IP monetization, gaming expansion, and convergence of physical and digital experiences.
• Translate evolving market insights into clear strategic guidance for internal teams and clients.
• Produce thought leadership materials, including whitepapers and market analyses to boost APPLY’s industry standing.
• Maintain partnerships with industry analysts, studios, platforms, publishers, leagues, and other stakeholders.
• Advocate for Agentic AI adoption in Entertainment client projects, educating stakeholders about autonomous, AI-driven systems' implications.
• Steer APPLY’s delivery teams to build capabilities in autonomous content recommendation, AI-led production, intelligent audience engagement, and real-time personalized experiences for live events within Entertainment.
• Shape APPLY’s external narrative positioning regarding Agentic Experience in Entertainment for market differentiation.
• Stay abreast of developments in agentic systems reshaping the entertainment landscape, including AI-generated content and autonomous distribution, and share insights internally and externally.

Qualifications and Experience

• Over 15 years of escalating leadership experience, with significant tenure in or providing services to the Entertainment sector including media, streaming, gaming, live events, or sports.
• Proven success in driving substantial revenue growth in commercial or client-facing leadership roles.
• Strong background in consulting, technology services, or digital transformation within an Entertainment framework.
• Demonstrated thought leadership evidenced by published work, speaking engagements, or notable industry reputation.
• Experience navigating matrix organizations and influencing cross-region and cross-functional initiatives without direct authority.
• Advanced understanding of AI, data, and digital technologies relevant to entertainment businesses; practical experience with Agentic AI is essential.

Leadership Attributes

• Executive presence and communication aptitude suited for direct reporting to the CEO and client-facing leadership.
• Commercially driven, accountable, and capable of developing processes independently to achieve revenue targets.
• Adaptive between strategic vision and operational execution; adept at guiding both high-level direction and detailed actions.
• Strong coaching skills motivated by fostering internal talent development in addition to managing external relationships.
• Proactive, self-motivated, and effective in dynamic, ambiguous environments.

Life at APPLY

• Engage in modern, agentic delivery practices alongside international brand projects impacting global markets.
• Join an inclusive, safe, and welcoming culture that values diversity and belonging.
• Access extensive professional development with a focus on Agentic AI and essential human skills for future workplaces.
• Benefit from a generous flexible personal time off policy to maintain work-life balance and overall wellness.
• Customize health and dental benefits to suit individual needs and preferences.
• Take advantage of flexible work arrangements from remote to on-site or hybrid setups.

Additional Information

APPLY is committed to equal opportunity and fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. Recruitment accommodations are available upon request. The company employs AI tools to assist in the hiring process to supplement human decision-making. Final employment choices are determined by human evaluation.