Participant Media

David
Linde

CEO

Linde joined the prodco as CEO in late 2015 and set out to expand its multi-platform reach and sharpen its core commitment to effecting social change while remaining commercially viable. The strategy paid off this past year, as the company’s films grossed more than $388 million worldwide and three of its 2018 releases (“Roma,” “Green Book” and “RBG”) collectively earned 17 Oscar nominations — the most in company history — winning six. Participant produced Ava DuVernay’s Netflix miniseries “When They See Us,” about five African-American youths falsely convicted of rape, which received 16 Emmy nominations. The Oregon native previously did stints at Universal, Focus Features, Good Machine and Lava Bear, where films released during his tenures collectively earned more than $14 billion globally, with 158 Oscar nominations and 34 wins.

Career

WONDER
THE POST
RBG

Education

Swarthmore College (PA, USA)

Variety Honors

2017 Variety500 Honoree
2018 Variety500 Honoree
EmPOWerment Award

News from Variety

Participant Extends David Linde's Contract as CEO

Participant has extended David Linde’s contract as chief executive officer with a multi-year deal, four years after the veteran executive joined the company.Participant founder Jeff Skoll, who launched the company as Participant Media in 2004, made the announcement Thursday.“David has done an exceptional job taking Participant to new heights the last four years,” Skoll said. “He possesses a rare combination of entertainment industry acumen, keen artistic sensibility, and a true passion to make a difference in the world through storytelling....

MORE NEWS

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given in your career?: “I’ve been lucky to receive very good advice from a broad spectrum of very smart people. I still remember when I was a relative kid, around our fevered pursuit of "Crying Game", Harvey said (simply and passionately): Always think about what more you can do and how can you do it even better, and then actually do it.”
What or who inspires you?: “So much, but it all starts with my parents, who are 93 and been married for 72 years. Their commitment to a just society (not to mention each other) is an absolute and an incredible beacon to follow. My wife and I have been together for 35 years and I work with Jeff Skoll, so it seems to have rubbed off!”