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| Susan Lyne | |
|---|---|
| Name | Susan Lyne |
| Occupation | Business executive; entrepreneur; investor |
| Known for | President of ABC Entertainment; founder of Gilt Groupe; media executive |
Susan Lyne is an American media executive, entrepreneur, and investor known for leadership roles in television, digital media, and luxury e-commerce. She served as president of ABC Entertainment and later founded the flash-sales site Gilt Groupe, shaping strategies across broadcast television, online retail, and venture capital. Lyne's career spans work at major companies including ABC, Time Inc., Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and News Corporation, and she has served on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards.
Lyne was raised in the United States and completed formal education that prepared her for a career in media and business. She attended institutions noted for business and arts connections that have produced alumni active at organizations such as Columbia University, Harvard University, Yale University, and Stanford University. Her early influences included exposure to major publications like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and broadcasters such as NBC and CBS. During her formative years she studied disciplines commonly pursued by executives who later work at firms like Time Inc. and ABC.
Lyne began her professional trajectory in publishing and magazine operations at companies affiliated with brands including Time Inc. and The New York Times Company. She developed editorial and business acumen working on titles that competed with magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, and Elle. Transitioning into television and multimedia, Lyne took roles that interfaced with networks like FOX Broadcasting Company and production companies like Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Television Studios. Her early work involved collaborations with executives from Hearst Communications and strategists linked to Condé Nast, helping to build programming initiatives and advertising relationships with firms such as CBS Television Network and agencies including WPP.
Lyne rose to prominence during her tenure as president of ABC Entertainment, where she oversaw series development, programming strategy, and talent relationships. In that capacity she worked alongside creators and showrunners associated with series on ABC and competitors at NBCUniversal and CBS Corporation, negotiating deals with production entities including 20th Century Fox Television and Paramount Television. Her executive portfolio included commissioning and shepherding projects that involved actors and producers represented by Creative Artists Agency, William Morris Endeavor, and United Talent Agency. Lyne's influence extended into partnership deals with advertisers such as Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, and Unilever, and she collaborated with industry figures from Disney leadership following corporate affiliations between Disney and ABC.
In 2007 Lyne co-founded Gilt Groupe, a pioneer in online flash-sales and luxury e-commerce that competed with platforms like Zappos, Rue La La, and Amazon.com on premium goods. As chief executive she steered fundraising rounds involving investors such as General Atlantic, Accel Partners, and J.P. Morgan affiliates, and negotiated growth strategies that intersected with luxury brands including Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Burberry. Under her leadership Gilt Groupe formed business relationships with financial services firms like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley while attracting talent from technology companies like Google and Facebook. Lyne later engaged in venture investing and advisory roles across startups in e-commerce, media technology, and direct-to-consumer brands, collaborating with incubators and accelerators associated with Y Combinator and Techstars.
Lyne has served on multiple corporate and non-profit boards, contributing governance expertise to companies and organizations including Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, The New York Times Company, and fashion and beauty firms connected to Estée Lauder Companies and LVMH. She has been an advisor to venture funds and private equity groups with ties to Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia Capital, and Benchmark. Lyne's board work extended to cultural and philanthropic institutions such as museums and healthcare entities that collaborate with foundations like The Rockefeller Foundation and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She has participated in advisory councils that include leaders from Blackstone Group, Bain Capital, and McKinsey & Company.
Lyne maintains a private personal life while engaging in philanthropic efforts focused on arts, education, and health initiatives. Her charitable involvement has intersected with organizations such as The Museum of Modern Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and educational non-profits associated with Teachers College, Columbia University and The Ford Foundation. Lyne has supported healthcare institutions and research entities working with hospitals like Mount Sinai Health System and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and has participated in fundraising events alongside leaders from The Clinton Foundation and The Aspen Institute. She continues to mentor entrepreneurs and participate in speaker forums at conferences hosted by Reuters Events, TechCrunch, and Web Summit.
Category:American business executives Category:American women in business