Lionsgate hires its first chief AI officer

CALIFORNIA: Lionsgate is making its clearest play yet in artificial intelligence, appointing Kathleen Grace as its first chief ai officer, a new role designed to weave AI into the heart of the studio’s creative and commercial engine.

Grace will steer AI strategy and execution across the company, from film sets to back offices. The mandate is broad: deploy tools that serve filmmakers’ creative vision, unlock efficiencies in production, marketing, distribution and administration, and build safeguards to protect the studio’s IP and its talent partners. She reports to chief executive Jon Feltheimer and joins the senior decision-making circle.

“Kathleen understands the AI ecosystem from the perspective of creators and IP holders alike, and she is the right person to lead our team forward in this exciting, complex and nuanced environment,” said Feltheimer. “Her AI expertise and digital media savvy will help us grow alongside our talent partners as we create new opportunities, establish new safeguards, and execute new strategies.”

The hire signals how seriously Hollywood now treats AI not just as a tool, but as a battleground over rights, revenue and creative control.

Grace arrives from Vermillio, where she served as chief strategy officer at what the company calls the first AI platform built to license and protect IP and likeness. Her work there focused on AI protection and rights management, helping content owners and talent track, authenticate and receive compensation for the use of their work in AI models.

“We’re proud to see Kathleen step into a pioneering role as the first chief ai officer at a Hollywood studio,” said Dan Neely, co-founder and chief executive of Vermillio. “She’s been a valued part of Vermillio’s growth and we’re excited to see her use her experience to help shape the future of AI in Hollywood.”

Her résumé stretches beyond AI. Grace previously led New Form, a digital studio backed by Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Discovery Communications, where she developed more than 40 pilots and sold nearly 25 series to buyers including TBS, go90, Freeform, Quibi and Refinery29. She also drove YouTube’s global Spaces initiative, launching creator studios in Los Angeles, New York, London and Tokyo.

For Lionsgate, the message is clear: AI is no longer experimental. It is strategic. As studios race to harness algorithms without losing their soul, Grace steps into a role that sits at the fault line of art, technology and ownership.

In Hollywood’s next act, the scripts may still be written by humans, but the rules of the game are being redrafted by AI — and Lionsgate wants a head start.