Participant Media

David
Linde

CEO

Participant CEO since 2015, Linde is responsible for long-range strategy, day-to-day operations, content creation, strategic investments and acquisitions. The company focuses on films with social impact. Its 2017 “Wonder,” about a boy with facial differences, became one of its most profitable films, and 2018’s “RBG,” about Supreme Court spitfire Ruth Bader Ginsberg, earned $13.4 million domestically. Linde formerly led Lava Bear Films, which he founded with the support of Reliance Entertainment. He partnered at Good Machine International, which sold to Universal to create Focus Features, which he co-ran and later served as chairman of Universal itself. He has received a slew of civic accolades, and he sits on the AMPAS board of governors.

Career

WONDER
THE POST
RBG

Education

Swarthmore College (PA, USA)

Variety Honors

2017 Variety500 Honoree
EmPOWerment Award

News from Variety

Participant Media CEO David Linde: It's 'Not That Hard' to Foster Inclusion, Diversity

Participant Media CEO David Linde was honored with the EmPOWerment Award at Variety's Power of Women event presented by Lifetime. He was recognized at the annual event on Friday for his company's backing of female-centric films like "RBG," Roma," and "On the Basis of Sex." However, Linde said in his acceptance speech that it's "really not that hard" to do the right thing.Throughout his career, Linde said he has attended too many meetings where people championed diversity, only to decry...

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!”