2026 Honoree

Kristin Dolan

AMC Networks

North Star

Celebrated for guiding AMC Networks’ transition from a cable networks business to a global streaming and technology focused content company fueled by premium storytelling, innovative partnerships and passionate fans.

KRISTIN DOLAN is the Chief Executive Officer of AMC Networks and oversees a portfolio of award-winning streaming services spanning AMC+, Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now, ALLBLK and HIDIVE, as well as a roster of premium cable networks – AMC, BBC AMERICA, IFC, SundanceTV and We TV. Dolan also leads film distribution labels Independent Film Company and RLJE Films, plus AMC Studios and AMC Networks International.

The North Star Award recognizes strong leadership that has had a bar-raising impact, providing guidance as the industry navigates change, and that aptly describes Dolan’s achievements at AMC and throughout her career.

Dolan’s ability to balance strong creative instincts with data-driven strategy has positioned AMC Networks as a forward-thinking force in one of the most competitive eras our industry has seen.

Credited with helping AMC Networks stay relevant in a challenging media landscape by strategically diversifying beyond the mediaco’s cable roots into the global streaming space, Dolan’s stewardship has led to a family of distinct brands with differentiated offerings tailored to their audiences.

Prior to AMC, her leadership at 605, the audience measurement and data analytics firm Dolan founded in 2016, helped modernize the business of television itself. By pioneering new standards in data analytics and audience measurement, Dolan’s enterprise empowered networks and advertisers to make smarter decisions.

Prior to 605, Dolan was COO at Cablevision Systems, where she also had oversight of Cablevision Media Sales, and was widely recognized for a pioneering data strategy that paved the way for an audience-driven approach to TV advertising. Dolan’s career has actually come full circle, as she got her start in marketing at AMC Networks (then known as Rainbow Media).

Dedication to the industry at large through board service, mentorship, and advocacy also speaks volumes to Dolan’s commitment to leadership. From Board roles with the NCTA, The Paley Center for Media, The Syndeo Institute, and beyond, she’s consistently championed diversity, inclusion, and education, modeling leadership that’s both impactful and deeply human.

A true North Star.