Amazon's Albert Cheng to chair Hollywood Radio and Television Society
Amazon MGM Studios executive Albert Cheng will chair the Hollywood Radio and Television Society.
The industry group, known as HRTS, announced its new officer line-up on 15 October, as reported by Variety. Cheng takes the top board role. He succeeds David Madden, who is president of Webtoon Productions.
Cheng is vice president, head of AI Studios for Amazon MGM Studios. The chair leads the board, setting its agenda and speaking for the organisation. That puts a senior streaming executive at the head of a body that spans broadcast, cable and streaming.
His path to the role runs through several Amazon jobs. In April 2018, Amazon Studios named him co-head of television, according to Deadline. By summer 2023, HRTS listed him with a different title, vice president, head of Prime Video US, Amazon, in its election announcement. In late 2023 he was also named as a participant in Variety's Entertainment Summit at CES, where he was set to discuss his vision for driving Prime Video revenue growth.
Tim McNeal will serve a second term as president. The president works alongside the chair on day-to-day leadership. McNeal was first elected to the HRTS Board of Directors in 2023.
He retired as senior vice president of creative talent development and inclusion for Disney Television Studios and Disney Entertainment. That background covers finding and supporting writers, directors and other creative staff.
Melissa Grego has renewed her contract to continue as chief executive into 2028. She has led HRTS as CEO since October 2017. The new deal extends a long run in charge.
It follows an earlier extension. In July 2023, HRTS extended Grego's contract through 2025. Grego also serves as chairperson of the HRTS Foundation, the group's charitable arm.
The rest of the officer team stays steady. Christina Davis will remain vice president. Scott Hervey will continue as secretary. Linnea McArt will remain treasurer for another two years.
HRTS counts dozens of corporate members and more than 2,000 individual members. Board members serve three-year terms. In July 2023, the group elected 12 new board members in its summer vote.
What makes this stand out is continuity. The chair changes, but the president, chief executive and three other officers stay on. For people who make television, that kind of stability decides which conversations keep going and which stories get finished.
