ABOUT CINEVERSE

Christopher J. McGurk has been the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board since January 2011. Mr. McGurk was the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Overture Films from 2006 until 2010, and also the Chief Executive Officer of Anchor Bay Entertainment, which distributed Overture Films’ products to the home entertainment industry. From 1999 to 2005, Mr. McGurk was Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Operating Officer of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. (“MGM”), acting as the company’s lead operating executive until MGM was sold for approximately $5 billion to a consortium of investors.

Mr. McGurk joined MGM from Universal Pictures, where he served in various executive capacities, including President and Chief Operating Officer, from 1996 to 1999. From 1988 to 1996, Mr. McGurk served in several senior executive roles at The Walt Disney Studios, including Studios Chief Financial Officer and President of The Walt Disney Motion Picture Group. Mr. McGurk has previously served on the boards of IDW Media Holdings, Inc., BRE Properties, Inc., DivX Inc., DIC Entertainment, Pricegrabber.com, LLC and MGM Studios, Inc.

Mr. McGurk has had a long and transformative executive career in film, TV and streaming content industries. His extensive knowledge of various sectors of the theatrical production and exhibition industry, and deep-rooted relationships within the media & entertainment industries will provide the Board with the benefits of his experience & expertise in this field.

Erick Opeka has served as Cineverse’s Chief Strategy Officer and President since December 2020, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the company’s streaming and distribution operations, and driving Cineverse’s corporate strategy and M&A initiatives. Under his leadership, Cineverse has reached over 80 million monthly viewers and more than 1.5 million paying subscribers through proprietary brands and strategic partnerships, resulting in triple-digit growth and positioning the Company as the largest independent streaming library and channel portfolio.

Prior to his current role, Mr. Opeka served as EVP of the company’s Global Digital Distribution business, managing a library of over 60,000 hours of content from various partners, including WWE, Discovery Networks, and National Geographic. Before joining Cineverse, he co-founded and led the independent distributor New Video’s streaming business. Mr. Opeka transformed it into the world’s largest independent film & TV aggregator, distributing over 35,000 hours of content from more than 650 partners, such as A&E Networks, The Jim Henson Company, and Scholastic Entertainment.

Mr. Opeka began his entertainment career at Madstone Entertainment, and prior to that, he served in the US Army infantry. He currently serves as the Vice Chairman of streaming trade organization OTT.X and on the Board of Directors of film and television production company Roundtable Entertainment. Mr. Opeka holds a BA degree from The University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from Florida State University.

Tony Huidor is the Company’s President of Technology and Chief Product Officer. In this dual role, he drives the company’s overall product roadmap as well as leads all key technology partnerships. Since joining Cineverse in 2015, Huidor has managed the launch and daily operations of the Company’s portfolio of all subscription and ad-supported digital-first channels.  He conceived and designed Cineverse’s proprietary Matchpoint Dispatch™ distribution platform which has allowed the Company to effectively streamline and scale its entire digital content distribution business. He also oversees overall product development of Matchpoint Blueprint™ which powers all streaming apps for Cineverse’s portfolio of streaming services and Matchpoint Insights which automates processing of all performance/revenue data and analytics. 

In addition, Mr. Huidor recently developed cineSearch which is the Company’s proprietary AI-based platform for advanced search and content recommendations. 

Previously, Mr. Huidor served as Vice President of Operations for Universal Music Group’s (UMG) mobile division which generated significant revenue for the company, then later transitioned into VP of Technical Product Development for Universal Music Group Distribution (UMGD), where he played an integral part in establishing and expanding the company’s digital and mobile distribution business.  Prior to his tenure at Universal Music Group, Mr. Huidor served as Director of Product Development for the Walt Disney Company’s internet division, where he was responsible for the creation and development of subscription-based entertainment services worldwide. In addition, he established Disney Mobile where he managed the creation and production of all premium mobile content worldwide across the Disney and Pixar portfolio of brands, with a strong focus on the North American, European, and Asian-Pacific regions. 

He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Digital Entertainment Group, a key trade organization serving the entertainment industry. Mr. Huidor holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of California, Los Angeles.

Yolanda Macias was recently appointed Chief Motion Pictures Officer at Cineverse to lead, build and oversee sourcing and execution of the Company’s theatrical slate and its global strategies.  Ms. Macias joined the Company in 2013 and served as the Chief Content Officer for Cineverse Entertainment Group between 2020 and 2025.  As CCO, she was responsible for acquiring global content rights for all distribution and streaming platforms and oversaw marketing.  During her leadership in this role Ms. Macias sourced and secured over 70,000 movies and series including TERRIFIER 2 and 3, Crown Media: Hallmark, NFL and Konami Cross (Yu-Gi-Oh).  

She has over 25 years of entertainment distribution experience, including executive positions at Vivendi/Universal from 2004 to 2012, DIRECTV from 1996 to 2003, and The Walt Disney Company from 1992 to 1995.  Ms. Macias built sustainable and profitable subscription platforms at DIRECTV and Vivendi/Universal’s digital distribution services.  In 2022, 2023 and 2024 Media Play News selected Macias as one of the Captains of Industry driving and leading home entertainment.  

Macias serves as vice chair for C5LA a non-profit organization supporting under resourced and high potential teens, and is a board director for Skechers USA, Inc. Macías received her MBA from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and her B.S. degree in Finance from California State University, Northridge.

Mark Torres is the Company’s Chief People Officer.  He joined Cineverse in 2018 as Senior Vice President of Human Resources. 

Mr. Torres has served as a senior human resources executive for over 20 years, at notable companies including Sony Pictures Entertainment, Ticketmaster and Reed Elsevier/Variety, as well as several technology and media start-up companies. Mr. Torres served as SVP of People & Culture at AdTec Rubicon Project (now Magnite), where he built their first internal HR function in preparation for their IPO, and integrated their acquisition of FAN (Fox Audience Networks) which doubled their engineering headcount. 

At Cineverse, Mark is credited with overseeing the transition of the business to a streaming media and technology company, implementing a sustainable remote work environment. He is also responsible for the conception and implementation of Cineverse Services where he oversees the company’s India based organization.  Mr. Torres is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach with a bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications.

Gary Loffredo is the Company’s Chief Legal Officer, Secretary and Senior Advisor. Mr. Loffredo has served in numerous executive leadership roles with the company including President, Chief Operating Officer, Senior Vice President of Business Affairs, and General Counsel. He also served as President of Digital Cinema from 2011 to 2023, as Interim Co-Chief Executive Officer from June 2010 through December 2010, and was a member of the Company’s Board of Directors from September 2000 – October 2015. 

Prior to joining Cineverse, from March 1999 to August 2000, Mr. Loffredo was Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Cablevision Cinemas d/b/a Clearview Cinemas, a film exhibitor. From September 1992 to February 1999, he was an attorney at the law firm of Kelley Drye & Warren LL.  

Mr. Loffredo has extensive experience in capital raising, corporate mergers and acquisitions, public company corporate governance, business development, litigation, data privacy and legal strategy, in addition to over two decades of experience in the cinema exhibition and streaming industry, both on the movie theatre and studio sides.

Mark Lindsey is the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Lindsey oversees all facets of accounting including reporting, financing, working capital management, treasury, tax compliance and planning, internal controls and policy development. 

Prior to joining Cineverse he most recently served as Chief Accounting Officer and acting Chief Financial Officer for Firefly Systems, Inc., a digital out-of-home (DOOH) and mobility advertising company. Mr. Lindsey was also CFO and CCO for Canapi Ventures, a financial technology-focused venture capital firm. Earlier in his career Mr. Lindsey served in related executive capacities with American Capital, LTD., XM Satellite Radio, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Michele Edelman is a seasoned Media & Entertainment Distribution and Supply Chain Executive with expertise in studios, premium content services, and supply chain technologies. Her specialty is building go-to-market strategies, business development and long term growth. 

As EVP of Technology and General Manager of Matchpoint at Cineverse, Michele directs the company’s go-to-market strategy, encompassing sales, marketing, and daily operations of its leading automated media supply chain platform.

Previously, she was Head of Growth at Premiere Digital, where she shaped the future of digital distribution through the lens of market needs. Before that, she served as Executive Vice President of Marketing and Content Strategy at Vubiquity, overseeing marketing, corporate communications, and premium content strategy.

Michele also held key positions at Warner Bros., including Vice President of Worldwide Direct to Consumer Marketing and Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, Programming, and Acquisitions for Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, amassing over 20 years in various roles.

Her career includes creating impactful campaigns for major studios like Disney, ESPN, and MTV Networks. Notably, she co-led the inaugural Movies On Demand program with CTAM, adapting to changes in the video rental market.

Michele holds a BA from The University of Rhode Island and completed the Tuck Executive Management Program at Dartmouth College. Her many accolades include recognition by the Entertainment Merchants Association and being named to Media Play News’ Top 40 in Streaming Media and the Women in Home Entertainment Award l. Additionally, she has received the URI Dean’s List Distinguished Achievement Award and CTAM’s Rainmaker Award amongst other industry awards. 

Terry City is EVP of Advertising Sales at Cineverse — a next-generation entertainment studio, where he oversees the sales and strategy for CTV, Social and Podcast brand partnerships.  He is an industry veteran with over 20 years of experience building and leading sales and partnership divisions for media companies.

Before getting his start in media and advertising, City began his career as a marketing and events representative at Anheuser-Bush. His media experience includes executive leadership roles at Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Yahoo Entertainment , Tumblr and Tastemade.  City also played a key role as an executive in building the sales teams and exponential revenue growth at start up media companies such as The Huffington Post and BuzzFeed, where he was the first west coast Vice President of sales. 

In addition, City is the co-founder of Steel Titan Entertainment, producers of the Emmy Award winning ESPN: 30 for 30 film, Playing for the Mob. City is also an advisor to many start-ups and entrepreneurs as well as being a mentor to college students as an advisory board member for the Penn State University Hollywood Program, and young professionals in the media industry. 

As Senior Vice President of Marketing, Lauren tells the story of Cineverse – overseeing the strategy and execution of all marketing, communication and creative initiatives for the company across releases, products, brands and business lines. She leads a customer-obsessed team to build engaging and effective title, brand, business and consumer narratives – supporting revenue generators with measurable, data driven results.

Most recently her team designed and executed the campaign for the highest grossing unrated movie in history, Terrifier 3, which opened at No. 1 at the box office thanks in part to what Forbes referred to as a “Masterclass in niche marketing.”

With more than 15 years of entertainment and technology expertise, she has held senior roles in the technology space, including at SaaS startup Tangelo.ai, along with various marketing, product, creative strategy and filmed entertainment positions, including VP Creative Affairs at Broad Green Pictures. 

Lauren also has a number of producer credits to her name spanning independent and major studio releases.  This includes The Transfiguration, which premiered in Un Certain Regard at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for the 2018 Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award, Wish Upon, directed by Jon Leonetti (Annabelle), starring Joey King and Ryan Phillippe, as well as Bad Santa 2, Break Point and Learning to Drive.

Additionally, Lauren is an advisor to the top-rated entrepreneurial course, “NUVention: Arts & Media” at Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering.  Self-described as “Funny, Ha Ha,”Lauren  is a graduate of the Second City Chicago, and lives in Southern California with her husband, actor Jerry Minor, and their son. 

As Senior Vice President of Programming and Strategy at Cineverse, Sara Burns leads content planning and insights across 20+ FAST Channels and 8+ SVOD platforms including Screambox (horror), DOVE (romance & dramas), Fandor (indie films), and many more. She takes a consumer-centric approach to strategy that includes everything from working with partners on creative stunts to enhancing content discoverability on platforms. She also steers Cineverse’s Greenlight Pipeline including key acquisitions and new releases.  

Sara’s additional career highlights are marked by her 18-year run at Warner Brothers Discovery. In her last role as SVP of Scheduling and Strategy, she oversaw beloved brands such as HGTV, ID, and TRVL, and led key launch initiatives for franchises and big tentpoles such as Home Town, Celebrity IOU, Rock The Block, Ugliest House in America, and Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge. 

Her future-focused approach to content windowing strategies across linear and direct-to-consumer platforms was pivotal in the success of discovery+ and the relaunch of Max. Her responsibilities also encompassed launching 100+ series per year and guiding greenlight and renewal priorities through insightful analysis. Sara was also part of the team that launched Investigation Discovery after rebranding it from Discovery Times Channel in 2008 – making it into a popular true crime destination. 

Sara is a respected speaker and panelist at industry conferences, a contributor to noteworthy publications such as Hub Intel: Entertainment Explained, a member of notable organizations such as Chief and WICT, and has served as a guest lecturer at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Sara Burns is based in the NYC Metropolitan Area.

Sheela Jairaj Gonsalves is a media and entertainment executive with over 20 years of experience spanning theatrical finance, TV syndication, and home entertainment. She has a deep understanding of content distribution and evolving business models, developing strategies that optimize monetization, operations, and revenue growth across global platforms.

Sheela has led high-performing teams and contributed to over $500 billion in revenue across digital, physical, and licensing businesses at major studios, including Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, and Sony Pictures.

As Senior Vice President at Cineverse, Sheela oversees physical media, digital distribution (EST/iVOD), AVOD/SVOD, and consumer licensing, ensuring content reaches audiences through data-driven strategies. She has successfully negotiated major output deals with Redbox and Netflix and helped scale scan-based sales models across 12,000 retail storefronts, redefining how entertainment content is distributed.

A data-focused strategist, Sheela specializes in revenue optimization, platform partnerships, and content monetization. She has managed multiple P&Ls, led technology implementations, and enhanced forecasting, inventory management, and trade fund strategies to improve business efficiency.
Sheela is also a mentor and advocate for female entrepreneurs, advising female-led startups and supporting emerging founders in the consumer packaged goods space.

Her insights have been featured in Forbes, Thrive Global, and Nasdaq, where she shares expertise on business growth, operational excellence, and leadership.

She holds a BA in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two children, and their dog.