Gerry Byrne
Founder, Partner, Fidelis Global Enterprises LLC
Gerry Byrne launched his media and entertainment consultancy, Fidelis Global Enterprises LLC, on January 1, 2010 following the sale of the Nielsen Media & Entertainment Group to e5 Global Media. Appointed Senior Vice President of that newly created Nielsen Group in March 2008, the properties included The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Backstage, Kirkus Reviews, The Bookseller, Adweek, Brandweek, Mediaweek, The Clios, Editor & Publisher and industry expos ShoWest, ShowEast, Cineasia and Cinema Expo International. Prior to Nielsen, Gerry Byrne Media Partners LLC, was his full service media and marketing consultancy to the entertainment, communications and media industries. Parade Magazine, Washington Life Magazine, Reed Business Information (RBI), The Nielsen Company, Recognition Media and Velocity Services Inc. (now Mail.com) were primary clients. Additionally, supported by RBI, as Chairman and Founder of the Quills Literacy Foundation and Executive Chairman of de Plumen LLC, Mr. Byrne led the 2005 launch of “The Quills”, a consumer-driven book awards program broadcast on the NBC/Universal Stations and produced by Al Roker Productions.
Gerry Byrne joined Stagebill Media as President and Chief Executive Officer and partner in April 2000. Stagebill, a luxury media advertising platform, and Performing Arts Magazine were acquired by Playbill Inc. in June, 2002. Stagebill, America’s foremost custom publisher for the performing arts, provided performance programs for over 120 venues including: Lincoln Center, Washington’ s Kennedy Center, Chicago’s Lyric, and Steppenwolf, and LA’s Geffen Theater and Music Center. Avenue, New York’s publication for affluent lifestyle, acquired by Stagebill Media in August 2001, was sold to New York’s Manhattan Media Group in August 2002.
Prior to Stagebill, Mr. Byrne, for well over a decade, was the Group Vice President and Publisher of Variety and Daily Variety, a period when Variety most significantly raised its profitability, launched new editions, and expanded its role as a leader in entertainment publications and web sites. Mr. Byrne led the launch of Daily Variety’s “Gotham Edition” in March 1998. The Variety/Schroder “Big Picture” Conference, The Variety Leadership Forum, Variety.com, and Variety Book Publishing were also a part of his executive responsibilities. He joined Variety from Norman Lear’s ACT III Communications where he was Senior Vice President of Planning and International Development. Prior to Act III, while at Crain Communications, Mr. Byrne was the start-up publisher of both Electronic Media (now Television Week) and Crain’s New York Business. At Advertising Age, also a Crain property, Mr. Byrne held positions first as the International Sales Director then as New York Sales Director. His career in publishing began at The New York Daily News in 1969.
Mr. Byrne is on the boards of The Creative Coalition, The Hamptons Film Festival, The Armory Foundation, The Reisenbach Foundation, The Fisher House Foundation, The Intrepid Museum Foundation, VeteransAdvantage and The New York City Police Museum. Mr. Byrne was awarded the “Salah M. Hassanein Humanitarian Award” at ShowEast ’96 for his many community involvements. New York’s Elaine Kaufman Cultural Center’s 2002 Distinguished Service Award was presented to Mr. Byrne for his business leadership and for his support of causes that benefit humanity. Additionally, the NYPD Marine Corps Association awarded Mr. Byrne its 2002 “Semper Fi” Award for his work in the community. And in June 2009, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg presented Mr. Byrne the “Made in New York” Award for his support of the Gotham’s entertainment and media enterprises. Mr. Byrne is a member of The Media Council of The Paley Center, The British Academy of Film & Television Arts, The New York Athletic Club, and The Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick.
Mr. Byrne is a native New Yorker and a 1966 graduate of Fordham College. He served as a United States Marine Corps Officer in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969 and was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon and the Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V.
Mr. Byrne and his wife, Elizabeth, have two children. Son, Gavin, a graduate of Fordham is Director of Content Operations at SAAVN LLC. Daughter, Megan, an actor, received her MFA in acting from the University of California, Irvine. Megan’s undergraduate degree is from Middlebury College.
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