The WICT Network Announces 2025 Global Board of Directors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 8, 2025

CONTACT:
Amanda Sawney
asawney@wict.org

The WICT Network Announces 2025 Global Board of Directors

Michelle L. Rice Assumes Board Chair Role and Leigh Woisard to Serve as Immediate Past Chair

New Directors At-Large include Loren Hudson, SVP & Chief Diversity Officer, Comcast Cable, and Toni Murphy, EVP, Chief Operating Officer, Astound Broadband

WASHINGTON, DC, (January 8, 2025) — The WICT Network today announced the members of its 2025 Global Board of Directors.

Michelle L. Rice, President of TV One & CLEO TV, who was elected Vice Chair in 2024, has now assumed the role of Chair for 2025. Leigh Woisard, Principal, Communications Consultant, has concluded her term as Board Chair in 2024 and will continue her service as Immediate Past Chair for 2025.

New Directors At-Large include Loren Hudson, SVP & Chief Diversity Officer, Comcast Cable and Toni Murphy, EVP, Chief Operating Officer, Astound Broadband.

The WICT Network Global Board is comprised of a select group of its nearly 10,000 members. Each board leader brings unique industry insights and strategic expertise to guide The WICT Network’s mission of empowering women in media, entertainment and technology worldwide. Board member bios are available online here.

“It’s an honor to take the reins as Chair for The WICT Network,” Michelle L. Rice said. “As we enter 2025, the organization is poised for transformational growth. We’ll build on the success of our national and global programs, continue our chapter expansion efforts and deepen our commitment to advancing women across the industry. I’m thrilled to work alongside such accomplished and committed leaders.”

Full 2025 Global Board of Directors for The WICT Network 

Executive Committee  

  • Michelle L. Rice, President, TV One & CLEO TV, Chair
  • Leigh Woisard, Principal, Communications Consultant, Immediate Past Chair
  • Justin Connolly, President, Disney Platform Distribution, The Walt Disney Company, Treasurer
  • Crystal Barnes, EVP, Corporate Social Responsibility & ESG Strategy, Paramount, Industry Relations Committee Chair
  • Catherine Bohigian, EVP, Government Affairs, Charter Communications, Development Committee Chair
  • Karen Buchholz, EVP, Administration, Comcast, Strategic Planning Committee Chair
  • Rhonda Crichlow, SVP & Chief Diversity Officer, Charter Communications, Governance Committee Chair
  • Alaka Williams, SVP, People & Culture, Warner Bros. Discovery, Chapter Development Committee Chair
  • Maria Brennan, President & CEO, The WICT Network

Directors-at-Large  

  • Lisa Anselmo, President, TV One & CLEO TV, Chair
  • Samira Bakhtiar, General Manager of Media & Entertainment, Games, and Sports, Amazon Web Services
  • Val Boreland, EVP, Content Acquisitions, NBCUniversal Entertainment
  • Roy Cho, EVP, Distribution, AMC Networks
  • Patty Donaldson, Regional Director, Cisco
  • Sara Hinzman, SVP, Distribution, A+E Networks
  • Loren Hudson, SVP & Chief Diversity Officer, Comcast Cable
  • Lori LeBas, EVP, Platform Distribution Operations, The Walt Disney Company
  • Soraya Loerts, MD Global Talent and Chief DEI Officer, Liberty Global
  • Ann McGlennen, Chief Human Resources Officer, Midco
  • Toni Murphy, EVP, Chief Operating Officer, Astound Broadband
  • Kia Painter, EVP & Chief People Officer, Cox Communications
  • Cindy Parsons, Executive Director, ESG, CSG International
  • Laura Peterson, North America Communications, Media & Technology Industry Practices Lead, Accenture
  • Asif Sadiq, Global, Chief DEI Officer, Warner Bros. Discovery 
  • Nathan Watt, SVP, Commercial Operations, Afiniti 

About The WICT NetworkEmpowering Women in Media, Entertainment & Technology
The WICT Network is a global organization whose mission is to create women leaders who transform our industry. We do this by providing unparalleled professional development programs, commissioning original gender research, and supporting a B2B network that helps advance women. For more than 40 years, The WICT Network has partnered with media, entertainment and technology companies to help build a more robust pipeline of women leaders. Founded in 1979, and now nearly 10,000 members with 24 chapters globally, The WICT Network is the largest and oldest professional association serving women in media. Charter Communications, Comcast NBCUniversal, The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros. Discovery are The WICT Network’s Strategic Touchstone Partners. Please visit www.wict.org or follow @WICTHQ on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X for more information.

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