S&P Global Market Intelligence presents a weekly rundown of executive changes in the U.S. technology, media and telecommunications industries.
* Apple Inc. appointed John Giannandrea senior vice president of machine learning and artificial intelligence strategy. He oversees machine learning and AI for the company and is in charge of software like Siri and Core ML, according to a Dec. 20 news release. Giannandrea joined the tech giant in April after stepping down as head of Alphabet Inc.-owned Google LLC's artificial intelligence and search units.
* Blumhouse Productions LLC tapped Netflix executive Karen Barragan as head of marketing and communications, Variety reported Dec. 20, citing a company statement. Barragan, who has been Netflix's vice president for original series publicity for the last six years, will join Blumhouse in January 2019. Barragan will manage Blumhouse's film and television divisions and will succeed Teri Everett, who is leaving the production company.
* Former Westwood One Inc. executive Michael Malone joined Social Reality Inc. as CFO. Malone was vice president of finance for Westwood One, an audio broadcast network in America, according to a Dec. 19 news release.
* Channing Dungey, the former president of Walt Disney Co.'s ABC Entertainment Group, is joining Netflix Inc. as vice president of original content. Dungey is expected to start at the streaming giant in February 2019 and will report to Cindy Holland, who is also a vice president of original content, Netflix said in a Dec. 17 news release.
* Diego Piacentini, Amazon.com Inc.'s senior vice president of international consumer business, has left the company after a two-year hiatus from the e-commerce giant. Piacentini spent 16 years at Amazon and most recently headed the company's international business. He was considered part of Amazon founder, Chairman and CEO Jeff Bezos' close group of senior leaders known as the "S-Team," according to a CNBC report.
* AutoWeb Inc. appointed J.P. Hannan and Tim Branham to its executive team, effective Dec. 17. Hannan, who recently stepped down as CFO of Social Reality, will succeed interim CFO Wes Ozima as executive vice president and CFO of the company. Ozima will remain with AutoWeb in his prior role as senior vice president and controller. Branham was named senior vice president and chief technology officer. He was most recently a partner at digital transformation consulting firm Perficient Inc. and has been working as a consultant with AutoWeb since August.
* AT&T Inc.'s WarnerMedia named Kevin Reilly head of content strategy for its new streaming service, Variety reported Dec. 14. Reilly will continue as president of TBS (US) and TNT (US) and as chief creative officer for Turner Broadcasting System Inc. He will report to Turner President David Levy and WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey.
* Richard Wu will retire as CFO of AirMedia Group Inc., effective Dec. 31. AirMedia Chairman and CEO Herman Guo will also serve as interim CFO until the company finds a permanent replacement, according to a Dec. 14 news release. Wu will remain with the company through Dec. 31, 2021, as a consultant.