NBCU & Apple Leaders to Speak at Variety's Entertainment Marketing Summit

Variety has announced additional speakers for the 2026 Entertainment Marketing Summit, presented by Deloitte, on April 22 in Los Angeles. Speakers will include NBCU Television Chairman Pearlena Igbokwe; Apple’s VP of Music, TV, Sports, Podcasts, and Beats, Oliver Schusser; supermodel and entrepreneur Ashley Graham and Netflix Games President Alain Tascan.

Igbokwe, Chairman, Television Studios, NBC Entertainment & Peacock Scripted, will participate in a keynote conversation with Cynthia Littleton, Co-Editor-in-Chief of Variety, speaking about the excitement for NBC as it celebrates its 100th year anniversary as a storied TV brand.

Schusser, VP Music, TV, Sports, Podcasts, and Beats at Apple, will speak to Variety reporter Steven Horowitz in a keynote conversation about Apple’s vision for connecting with audiences, hot off its wildly popular Bad Bunny Superbowl Halftime Show. Graham will join Natasha Bolouki, Partner and Agent, UTA, to chat about “The Power of Partnership,” moderated by Jennifer Maas, Senior TV Business and Games Reporter, Variety.

Tascan joins Wenny Katzenstein, Managing Director, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Deloitte Consulting LLP, U.S. in the fireside chat “Leveling Up Fandom: How Games Extend Entertainment IP,” moderated by Variety’s Maas.

In other newly added highlights, CAA Senior Leader Brent Weinstein will moderate the fireside chat “Mythical Momentum!,” a look into how Rhett & Link’s Mythical has driven consistent innovation and growth spanning three decades, featuring Dennis Ortiz, Principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP and Jacob Moncrief, COO, Mythical. “The next chapter of entertainment marketing will likely be defined by how well brands turn audiences into participants,” said Stephanie Dolan, U.S. Entertainment Leader, Deloitte Consulting LLP.

“The combination of storytelling, data, and real-time feedback is transforming fandom from something you observe into something you actively shape. As platforms expand and expectations evolve, marketers have an opportunity to build deeper, more personalized connections. With Deloitte’s 20th annual Digital Media Trends report launching this week, we’re excited to bring fresh insights to the event and collaborate with industry leaders to help shape the future of entertainment marketing.”

Additional speakers, with more soon to be announced, include Blair Rich, Chief Marketing Officer, Legendary Entertainment; Rebecca Kearey, EVP, Head of International Marketing, Distribution & Business Operations, Searchlight Pictures; Brett Hyman, Founder and CEO, NVE Experience Agency; Jill Steinhauser, Group SVP, Platform Monetization & Partnerships, Warner Bros. Discovery; Gina Igwe, VP, Brand & Consumer Marketing, DoorDash; Sharhzad Rafati, CEO, RHEI; Ben Fielder, Head of Enterprise Sales, West Coast, SlackAdapt; Christie Sclater, SVP, Global Marketing, Clinique Global; Jason Eskin, SVP, Digital Marketing, The Walt Disney Studios; Edvin Dapcevic, Global Head of Media & Entertainment, Discord; Jay Tucker, Executive Director, Center for Media, Entertainment and Sports, UCLA Anderson School of Management; Karen Barragan, CMO, Blumhouse; Darren Schillace, President, Marketing, Fox Entertainment; Tara Lipinski, Olympic Gold Medalist and Sports Analyst; Shareef O’Neal, Influencer and Creative Director, Shaq Brand; Leah Kateb, Chief Creative Officer & Re-Founder of Skylar.

Speakers join previously announced programming including keynote conversations featuring Pam Abdy, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group Co-Chair and CEO, and Tina Knowles, businesswoman, fashion designer, art collector, philanthropist and activist.

Deloitte is the presenting partner of the summit. NBCUniversal is a Premier Partner of the event, with supporting partners Discord, StackAdapt, & Vizio. Get your ticket today at variety.com/entmar. Please see Deloitte’s website for a detailed description of its legal structure.