Lionsgate Enters New Era: First Chief AI Officer Appointed as Veteran TV Leader Sandra Stern Departs
The appointment aligns with a broader industry shift toward an “AI-first” pipeline, which allows creators to develop high-fidelity assets early in the process to de-risk major investments.
RMN Stars Corporate Desk
New Delhi | February 24, 2026
SANTA MONICA – Lionsgate, the studio behind global franchises like John Wick and The Hunger Games, is undergoing a major leadership transformation as it pivots toward an “AI-first” production model and says goodbye to one of its most influential television executives.
Strategic Hire to Lead AI Evolution: In a move signaling Hollywood’s increasing reliance on technology, Lionsgate has appointed Kathleen Grace as its first-ever Chief AI Officer. Reporting directly to CEO Jon Feltheimer, Grace is tasked with overseeing the studio’s AI strategy, which includes providing new tools to filmmakers and driving operational efficiencies across production, marketing, and distribution.
Grace joins the studio with a background in both creative development and tech-focused intellectual property (IP) protection. She previously served as the chief strategy officer at Vermillio, an AI platform dedicated to licensing and protecting content owners’ work. Her role at Lionsgate will specifically involve spearheading initiatives to protect the IP of the studio and its talent partners as they integrate AI into their workflows.
The appointment aligns with a broader industry shift toward an “AI-first” pipeline, which allows creators to develop high-fidelity assets early in the process to de-risk major investments. While CEO Jon Feltheimer is “bullish” on the technology—noting a 2024 deal to train AI on the studio’s library—he emphasized that these advancements must be balanced with “appropriate guardrails”.
Departure of a Television Legend: While Lionsgate looks toward a tech-driven future, it is also preparing for the departure of Sandra Stern, Vice Chairman of the Lionsgate Television Group. A 40-year industry veteran who spent 23 years at the indie studio, Stern will step down at the end of March 2026 to transition into a long-term consultancy.
Stern is widely credited with crafting the bespoke business models that defined the early streaming era. During her tenure, she negotiated the deals for groundbreaking series such as Mad Men (AMC), Orange Is The New Black (Netflix), and Mythic Quest (Apple TV). Most recently, she helped guide the studio’s acquisition of eOne and revamped the business model for The Hunting Wives to fit global rights paradigms.
“Sandra has been a pillar of our studio’s growth and success,” Feltheimer stated, describing her as an “amazing strategist” with unparalleled industry relationships.
A Studio in Transition: The dual announcements highlight a studio in the midst of a significant cultural and operational shift. As Grace prepares to expand the “creative palette” for Lionsgate’s filmmakers through AI, the studio bids farewell to a leader who spent decades hand-crafting the deals that built its television empire.
Stern expressed confidence in the transition, noting that she leaves the Television Group in an “incredibly strong position” with a robust creative pipeline. For Grace, the new role represents an opportunity to join an “entrepreneurial and forward-looking” culture at a time when technology is fundamentally altering how films are financed and produced.
