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our team
Ben Ward
Founder and Managing Director, The SevenArts
With over 30 years of experience in retained executive search, Ben Ward has been one of the early leaders in the search industry focused entirely on the world of entertainment and media. His career began in Los Angeles at the world’s largest executive search firm, where he worked in the heart of the entertainment and media industry. In 1995, he was seconded to London to grow the company’s entertainment and media activities across Europe. In 1998, he took over full responsibility for all entertainment, media and sports assignments in Europe and the Middle East and was ultimately promoted to Vice President and Managing Director.
He launched The SevenArts in partnership with James & Co, a hybrid executive search firm focused on providing leadership solutions such as executive search, organizational design and performance management, exclusively for content businesses. His experience is deeply rooted in recruiting senior leaders for all types of entertainment, media, sports, and media technology companies, including film (production, distribution, exhibition), television (terrestrial, cable, satellite, production, distribution), music (record companies, labels, publishers), sports (marketing agencies, teams, leagues, federations), digital media (social and online content, SVOD, AVOD, TVOD, FAST), publishing (newspapers, magazines, and books), and live entertainment. Having lived in Los Angeles, London, and Spain and led executive search assignments in all regions of the world, Ben has a unique understanding of the issues facing local and international media companies. He regularly attends the various international markets, such as Mip-TV, Mipcom, NATPE, Sportel, and IAB. In addition, he served as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the American School of Las Palmas. Ben was graduated from UCLA with a BA in English.
He launched The SevenArts in partnership with James & Co, a hybrid executive search firm focused on providing leadership solutions such as executive search, organizational design and performance management, exclusively for content businesses. His experience is deeply rooted in recruiting senior leaders for all types of entertainment, media, sports, and media technology companies, including film (production, distribution, exhibition), television (terrestrial, cable, satellite, production, distribution), music (record companies, labels, publishers), sports (marketing agencies, teams, leagues, federations), digital media (social and online content, SVOD, AVOD, TVOD, FAST), publishing (newspapers, magazines, and books), and live entertainment. Having lived in Los Angeles, London, and Spain and led executive search assignments in all regions of the world, Ben has a unique understanding of the issues facing local and international media companies. He regularly attends the various international markets, such as Mip-TV, Mipcom, NATPE, Sportel, and IAB. In addition, he served as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the American School of Las Palmas. Ben was graduated from UCLA with a BA in English.
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Michele James
Founder, James & Co.
Ms. James previously was Chief Talent Scout for AOLTW and served as the leader of a world-class executive search and recruiting organization across all AOL Time Warner businesses domestically and internationally. She identified top talent, internally and externally, to fill leadership roles throughout the company and facilitated cross-divisional moves that resulted in attracting and developing the world's best talent. James’ unmatched efforts in diversity represented searches that were a magnet for a broad range of people and perspectives.
Prior to joining AOLTW, Michele was managing director of the world’s largest Executive Search Firm, where she led the media, entertainment and convergence practice in identifying executive talent for major media entertainment technology companies as well as portfolio work of mature capital firms. As one of the top Executive Search professionals in the field, Michele brought broad-based recruiting experience as well as best practices to her role.
Before entering the field of search, Michele held executive positions at a number of firms in the cable and media industries. These include: Executive Vice President and partner of US FiberCom Network, Inc., a subsidiary of TCI/US Cable Groups; Vice President for Cable Sales and Marketing at Westinghouse Broadcasting’s Group W; and Vice President of the media brokerage firm FBC.
Prior to joining AOLTW, Michele was managing director of the world’s largest Executive Search Firm, where she led the media, entertainment and convergence practice in identifying executive talent for major media entertainment technology companies as well as portfolio work of mature capital firms. As one of the top Executive Search professionals in the field, Michele brought broad-based recruiting experience as well as best practices to her role.
Before entering the field of search, Michele held executive positions at a number of firms in the cable and media industries. These include: Executive Vice President and partner of US FiberCom Network, Inc., a subsidiary of TCI/US Cable Groups; Vice President for Cable Sales and Marketing at Westinghouse Broadcasting’s Group W; and Vice President of the media brokerage firm FBC.
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Roysi Erbes
President, James & Co.
Ms. Erbes combines a consultative approach to her client’s business strategies with innovative and targeted senior search execution. The variety of assignments she completes keeps her in constant touch with top level executives in all sectors of the media and entertainment industries, allowing her to stay abreast of the most current trends in the marketplace and advise her clients about how these impact their businesses.
Prior to joining James & Company, Ms. Erbes was with the world’s largest leading Executive Search Firm for 9 years, most recently serving as co-head of the media practice. Ms. Erbes has conducted numerous senior-level executive search assignments in television, film, satellite, music, publishing, sports and internet industries. This has included her work with emerging Internet and e-commerce concerns, as well as venture capital firms and their portfolio companies within multiple functional disciplines (i.e. CEO, COO, finance, sales, marketing, etc.) Previously, Ms. Erbes worked in the Network Television Research department of Lorimar Television.
Before coming to the United States, Ms. Erbes worked as an Assistant Product Manager at Unilever in Istanbul, Turkey. Ms. Erbes holds an MA in communications management from the Annenberg School at the University of Southern California and a BA in international business administration from the American University of Paris. Ms. Erbes is fluent in French and Turkish.
Prior to joining James & Company, Ms. Erbes was with the world’s largest leading Executive Search Firm for 9 years, most recently serving as co-head of the media practice. Ms. Erbes has conducted numerous senior-level executive search assignments in television, film, satellite, music, publishing, sports and internet industries. This has included her work with emerging Internet and e-commerce concerns, as well as venture capital firms and their portfolio companies within multiple functional disciplines (i.e. CEO, COO, finance, sales, marketing, etc.) Previously, Ms. Erbes worked in the Network Television Research department of Lorimar Television.
Before coming to the United States, Ms. Erbes worked as an Assistant Product Manager at Unilever in Istanbul, Turkey. Ms. Erbes holds an MA in communications management from the Annenberg School at the University of Southern California and a BA in international business administration from the American University of Paris. Ms. Erbes is fluent in French and Turkish.