Amazon-owned IMDb, a longtime digital repository of movie, TV and celebrity information, is shuffling its top exec, with founder Col Needham passing the CEO baton to Nikki Santoro.
Needham will segue to the role of founder and executive chair. Santoro has been COO of IMDb since 2021.
The transition marks a significant changing of the guard for the 35-year old company, which was one of the early internet resources during the emergence of the World Wide Web. Santoro is the only woman to hold the CEO title and just the second person overall.
Needham, who founded IMDb in 1990, will continue to be based in the IMDb office in Bristol, England, providing strategic guidance and serving as a global ambassador.
“Nikki’s strategic vision, deep understanding of our customers and products, and commitment to innovation have already delivered impressive business results during her tenure as COO,” Needham said in a press release. “Her track record of driving growth and enhancing our products and services makes her the ideal person to guide IMDb into a new era. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Nikki and the talented IMDb team in my new role as we build on IMDb’s legacy and shape the future of entertainment information.”
Santoro described taking over the top job as “both a tremendous honor and an exciting challenge,” pledging to steer IMDb through a complex operating environment. “As we navigate the rapidly evolving landscapes of technology and entertainment, IMDb will be at the forefront, delighting fans, empowering creators, and informing industry decisions,” she said.
After joining IMDb in 2016, Santoro became COO in 2021, spearheading strategic development across all facets of the business, including advertising, content, product, technology, and user experience, while managing profit and loss statement responsibility for all IMDb businesses. Prior to IMDb, she worked in technology and product development, holding exec posts at Amazon, Microsoft and The Weather Channel.
IMDb, which was acquired by Amazon in 1998, now claims to draw 250 million monthly visitors. To mark its 35th anniversary and leadership change, the company plans to host an industry dinner during the Sundance Film Festival next week.
