People Executive and Leadership Team

September, 2026

Leadership Overview

People has 10 executives leading key functions including strategy, publishing, operations, revenue, marketing, human resources, finance, technology, and medical oversight.

Focused on long-term value creation through brand ownership and strategic investments, People maintains a diverse portfolio of lifestyle, entertainment, and travel media assets while managing significant stakes in global hospitality ventures.

Leadership Roles at People

  • Chief Executive Officer - Saqi Barzani
  • Publisher and Chief Executive Officer, The Daily Beast - Ben Sherwood
  • Chief Financial Officer & Head of Strategy - Timothy Quinn
  • Chief Revenue Officer - Brian Kightlinger
  • Chief Marketing Officer - Amy Strauss
  • Executive Assistant To Chief Human Resources Officer - Rose Carrillo
  • Chief Revenue Officer, Beauty, Style & Entertainment, People Inc - Melissa Guy
  • Chief Information Officer, Tools & Manager - William Ring
  • Chief Medical Officer - Sohaib Imtiaz
  • Deputy Director - Vladislav Kostin
  • Saqi Barzani - Chief Executive Officer

    Saqi Barzani, the Chief Executive Officer at People, directs the overarching corporate strategy and long-term vision for the media conglomerate. Barzani manages the integration of lifestyle, entertainment, and travel brands to ensure consistent market growth. By overseeing the strategic investment portfolio, the Chief Executive Officer maintains alignment between brand ownership and capital allocation goals. This leadership role involves constant collaboration with the Board to refine the company's competitive position within the global media landscape. Saqi Barzani drives operational excellence across all subsidiaries, ensuring that the organization maximizes value for stakeholders. Through disciplined oversight of the diverse asset base, the Chief Executive Officer secures the financial health of the enterprise. Barzani prioritizes innovation in content delivery and brand expansion, positioning the company as a leader in consumer engagement. Ultimately, the Chief Executive Officer fosters a culture of accountability and high performance across the entire corporate structure.

    Ben Sherwood - Publisher and Chief Executive Officer, The Daily Beast

    Ben Sherwood, the Publisher and Chief Executive Officer, The Daily Beast at People, directs the editorial and commercial operations of the digital media property. Sherwood manages the strategic growth of the brand, focusing on audience expansion and digital content monetization. By overseeing the editorial direction, the Publisher and Chief Executive Officer, The Daily Beast ensures that the publication maintains high standards of journalism while meeting revenue targets. This leadership role involves coordinating with the broader corporate team to leverage synergies across the media portfolio. Ben Sherwood drives the digital transformation of the brand, implementing new technologies to enhance user experience and engagement. Through careful management of the editorial staff and commercial teams, the Publisher and Chief Executive Officer, The Daily Beast secures the long-term viability of the platform. Sherwood prioritizes the development of unique content strategies that resonate with modern audiences, ensuring the brand remains a prominent voice in the competitive digital media market.

    Timothy Quinn - Chief Financial Officer & Head of Strategy

    Timothy Quinn, the Chief Financial Officer & Head of Strategy at People, directs the financial planning, capital allocation, and strategic investment activities for the conglomerate. Quinn manages the company's fiscal health, ensuring that resources are deployed to maximize long-term value creation. By overseeing the financial reporting and strategic analysis teams, the Chief Financial Officer & Head of Strategy ensures that all business decisions are supported by rigorous data and market insights. This leadership role involves coordinating with the Board and other C-suite executives to evaluate potential acquisitions and investment opportunities. Timothy Quinn drives the development of the company's long-term financial roadmap, focusing on sustainable growth and disciplined capital management. Through the oversight of financial risk and performance metrics, the Chief Financial Officer & Head of Strategy secures the stability of the organization. Quinn prioritizes the alignment of financial goals with the company's broader mission, ensuring that every investment contributes to the overall success of the media and consumer brands.

    Brian Kightlinger - Chief Revenue Officer

    Brian Kightlinger, the Chief Revenue Officer at People, directs the global sales strategy and commercial partnerships for the company's diverse media portfolio. Kightlinger manages the revenue generation efforts across all lifestyle, entertainment, and travel brands. By overseeing the sales teams, the Chief Revenue Officer ensures that advertising and subscription targets are met through innovative market approaches. This leadership role involves collaborating with marketing and editorial leaders to create integrated brand solutions for clients. Brian Kightlinger drives the expansion of the company's commercial footprint, focusing on high-growth sectors and emerging digital platforms. Through the optimization of the sales funnel and the development of strategic client relationships, the Chief Revenue Officer secures consistent financial performance. Kightlinger prioritizes the alignment of revenue goals with the company's long-term value creation strategy, ensuring that commercial activities support the overall mission of the organization. Ultimately, the Chief Revenue Officer maintains the financial momentum necessary for continued investment and brand development.
    Brian Kightlinger

    Amy Strauss - Chief Marketing Officer

    Amy Strauss, the Chief Marketing Officer at People, directs the brand identity and consumer engagement strategies for the company's extensive media assets. Strauss manages the marketing initiatives that promote lifestyle, entertainment, food, and travel brands to a global audience. By overseeing the creative and digital marketing teams, the Chief Marketing Officer ensures that the company's messaging remains consistent and impactful across all channels. This leadership role involves analyzing consumer trends to refine brand positioning and increase market share. Amy Strauss drives the development of integrated campaigns that leverage the company's unique position in the media industry. Through the strategic use of data-driven insights, the Chief Marketing Officer optimizes marketing spend and enhances brand loyalty. Strauss prioritizes the creation of compelling narratives that resonate with diverse consumer segments, ensuring that the company remains a top-of-mind choice for lifestyle and entertainment content. Ultimately, the Chief Marketing Officer strengthens the brand equity of the entire portfolio.

    Rose Carrillo - Executive Assistant To Chief Human Resources Officer

    Rose Carrillo, the Executive Assistant To Chief Human Resources Officer at People, directs the administrative operations and scheduling for the human resources department. Carrillo manages the flow of information and communication between the Chief Human Resources Officer and the broader organization. By overseeing the coordination of HR initiatives, the Executive Assistant To Chief Human Resources Officer ensures that talent management and organizational development programs proceed according to schedule. This leadership role involves supporting the implementation of corporate culture strategies and employee engagement efforts. Rose Carrillo drives the efficiency of the HR office, providing the necessary logistical support to facilitate executive decision-making. Through the careful management of sensitive personnel data and departmental records, the Executive Assistant To Chief Human Resources Officer maintains the integrity of the human resources function. Carrillo prioritizes the smooth operation of the department, ensuring that the leadership team can focus on strategic talent acquisition and retention goals.

    Melissa Guy - Chief Revenue Officer, Beauty, Style & Entertainment, People Inc

    Melissa Guy, the Chief Revenue Officer, Beauty, Style & Entertainment, People Inc at People, directs the commercial strategy specifically for the beauty, style, and entertainment verticals. Guy manages the revenue streams associated with these high-engagement lifestyle brands, focusing on partnerships and advertising growth. By overseeing the specialized sales teams, the Chief Revenue Officer, Beauty, Style & Entertainment, People Inc ensures that the company captures maximum value from its content in these sectors. This leadership role involves developing targeted commercial solutions that align with the specific needs of beauty and style advertisers. Melissa Guy drives the expansion of the company's presence in the entertainment market, leveraging the strength of the brand portfolio to attract premium partners. Through the strategic management of client relationships and market opportunities, the Chief Revenue Officer, Beauty, Style & Entertainment, People Inc secures the financial performance of these key business units. Guy prioritizes the integration of commercial goals with editorial quality, ensuring that the brand remains a leader in the lifestyle media space.

    William Ring - Chief Information Officer, Tools & Manager

    William Ring, the Chief Information Officer, Tools & Manager at People, directs the technological infrastructure and digital toolsets that support the company's media operations. Ring manages the development and maintenance of the platforms used for content creation, distribution, and data management. By overseeing the IT and engineering teams, the Chief Information Officer, Tools & Manager ensures that the company's digital capabilities remain robust and scalable. This leadership role involves identifying and implementing new technologies that enhance operational efficiency and user experience across all brands. William Ring drives the digital transformation of the organization, providing the tools necessary for teams to succeed in a competitive media environment. Through the strategic management of the company's technology stack, the Chief Information Officer, Tools & Manager secures the integrity and security of the digital assets. Ring prioritizes the alignment of technology investments with the company's strategic goals, ensuring that the infrastructure supports the long-term growth and innovation of the media portfolio.

    Sohaib Imtiaz - Chief Medical Officer

    Sohaib Imtiaz, the Chief Medical Officer at People, directs the health and wellness content strategy and medical oversight for the company's lifestyle brands. Imtiaz manages the accuracy and credibility of health-related information across the media portfolio, ensuring that content meets the highest standards of medical integrity. By overseeing the medical review processes, the Chief Medical Officer ensures that the company provides reliable and valuable information to its audience. This leadership role involves collaborating with editorial teams to develop health-focused content that resonates with consumers. Sohaib Imtiaz drives the integration of medical expertise into the company's lifestyle and wellness offerings, enhancing the brand's authority in these areas. Through the strategic management of health-related initiatives, the Chief Medical Officer secures the trust and engagement of the audience. Imtiaz prioritizes the alignment of medical content with the company's mission to provide high-quality lifestyle information, ensuring that the organization remains a trusted source for health and wellness content.

    Vladislav Kostin - Deputy Director

    Vladislav Kostin, the Deputy Director at People, directs internal operational workflows and supports the executive leadership team in executing corporate initiatives. Kostin manages cross-departmental projects that streamline the integration of lifestyle and entertainment brands. By overseeing the implementation of organizational policies, the Deputy Director ensures that all business units adhere to the company's strategic objectives. This leadership role involves facilitating communication between various divisions to improve efficiency and resource allocation. Vladislav Kostin drives the execution of complex projects, providing the necessary support to maintain operational continuity across the conglomerate. Through rigorous monitoring of internal processes, the Deputy Director identifies opportunities for improvement and cost reduction. Kostin prioritizes the alignment of departmental goals with the broader mission of the organization, ensuring that every team contributes to the overall success of the company. Ultimately, the Deputy Director maintains the operational stability required for sustained growth and market impact.

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding People Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads People?
    People is led by Saqi Barzani (Chief Executive Officer), along with executives such as Ben Sherwood (Publisher and Chief Executive Officer, The Daily Beast) and Timothy Quinn (Chief Financial Officer & Head of Strategy).
    Who is part of People’s executive team?
    The executive team of People includes leaders such as Saqi Barzani (Chief Executive Officer), Ben Sherwood (Publisher and Chief Executive Officer, The Daily Beast), Timothy Quinn (Chief Financial Officer & Head of Strategy) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does People have?
    People has 10 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in People’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of People includes roles such as Chief Executive Officer, Publisher and Chief Executive Officer, The Daily Beast, Chief Financial Officer & Head of Strategy, Chief Revenue Officer, Chief Marketing Officer.