Our Leadership Team

Peter Chernin is one of the industry’s most accomplished media executives with a three-decade history leading and growing blue chip content companies as well as investing and cultivating direct to consumer businesses. Chernin Entertainment has produced some of the most commercially and critically successful content of the last decade, including the PLANET OF THE APES trilogy that re-launched the franchise for a new generation and earned an Academy Award nomination, FORD V FERRARI, which won two Academy Awards from four nominations, the Best Picture-nominated HIDDEN FIGURES, and the FEAR STREET trilogy, based on R.L. Stine’s horror series and arising from a first-look film pact with Netflix. On the television side, Chernin Entertainment’s recent titles include TRUTH BE TOLD, starring Octavia Spencer, and SEE, starring Jason Momoa — both for Apple TV+ — as well as Netflix’s BOMBAY BEGUMS and Fox’s hit comedy, NEW GIRL.

Since co-founding 44 Blue Productions in 1984, Rasha has established the company as an award-winning leader in non-fiction programming. Rasha’s creative vision has taken the company from its original roots in sports and action-adventure programming to the exploration of mass incarceration with the critically acclaimed MSNBC prison docuseries LOCKUP, one of the longest-running series on television; to the redefining of celebrity family docuseries with A&E’s twice Emmy-nominated WAHLBURGERS, produced in association with Mark Wahlberg and Donnie Wahlberg; genre-busting first responder documentary series NIGHTWATCH (A&E) and FIRST RESPONDERS LIVE (FOX), both produced in association with Dick Wolf; hit Netflix series JAILBIRDS, about female inmates in Sacramento County Jail; and the long-running Animal Planet series PIT BULLS & PAROLEES. 

Libby Geist is responsible for overseeing all documentaries and docuseries at Words + Pictures, from development through delivery.  Recent projects under Geist include two-time Emmy winner “SuperLeague: The War for Football” (AppleTV+), “SuperMan: The Christopher Reeve Story” which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival (Warner) and Full Court Press (ESPN/ABC), amongst many others. Prior to joining W+P, she served as the Vice President & Executive Producer of ESPN Films and Original Content.  Geist has spent her entire career in documentary film, from the trenches at Shoot the Moon Productions, then ESPN and now, President & Executive Producer at Words + Pictures.  

Scott Manson is President of North Road Company, where he oversees day-to-day operations and leads the company’s global growth strategy in close partnership with Chairman Peter Chernin. He drives North Road’s organic and inorganic expansion, with oversight of its portfolio companies, investment strategy, new ventures, and key partnerships. Before joining North Road, Scott was a President at HYBE Corp. following its acquisition of Ithaca Holdings, where Scott served as the Chief Operating Officer and built businesses around some of the world’s most prominent music artists. Prior to Ithaca, Scott was an attorney at O’Melveny & Myers LLP.

Connor Schell is the CEO of non-fiction production studio Words + Pictures. He founded W+P with TCG after a nearly two-decade long tenure at The Walt Disney Company, where he served as the Executive VP of Content for ESPN and oversaw live event production, studio programming, and the launch of ESPN+ as well as the celebrated 30 FOR 30 series. Schell has executive produced critically acclaimed docuseries such as THE LAST DANCE and the Academy Award-winning film O.J.: MADE IN AMERICA.

Chris Coelen is the CEO and founder of Kinetic Content and one of the most prolific producers in the TV Industry. His current slate at Kinetic includes hits in every non-scripted genre and brand-new programming at 11 different networks. Some of Kinetic’s most popular shows include the award winning phenomenon LOVE IS BLIND S1-S4, which trended on Netflix at #1 for over 10 weeks, THE ULTIMATUM: MARRY OR MOVE ON & QUEER LOVE(Netflix), which received a reported 1.3 billion viewers, ABC’s latest Summer hit, CLAIM TO FAME, and cable TV’s highest rated show on Wednesday’s (beating out the NBA), MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT - just to name a few. 

Stephanie Noonan Drachkovitch is Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Peabody, Emmy®, Gracie and GLAAD award-winning non-fiction producer at 44 Blue Productions.  A former studio executive, Stephanie oversees 44 Blue’s development team and, along with Co-CEO and Co-Founder Rasha Drachkovitch, executive produces multiple series on 44 Blue’s dynamic slate of programming.  Her broad range of programming experience has helped shape 44 Blue’s diverse slate, from Netflix’s LIFE AFTER DEATH WITH TYLER HENRY to Discovery+ award-winning limited series LAST CHANCE TRANSPLANT and Oxygen’s true crime franchise REAL MURDERS OF ORANGE COUNTY and REAL MURDERS OF ATLANTA.  

Rochelle Gerson is the Head of Business Affairs at the North Road Company. She oversees the strategy and execution of all content deals across North Road’s expanding portfolio of premium production companies around the world. With a demonstrated history of dealmaking for some the industry’s biggest companies including Netflix and HBO, Gerson provides counsel to North Road’s industry-leading executive team.

David Ready is the Executive Vice President of Film & Television at Chernin Entertainment. As a core member of leadership, he spearheads all aspects of the company’s film and television efforts from development, through production, to release. In this role, David is responsible for managing the Chernin Entertainment executive team, setting strategic goals and innovations for the company, fostering relationships with filmmakers and talent, and managing key relationships with distribution partners.

Paige Suen is the Head of People for The North Road Company and oversees all people practices across the global organization. She most recently led Human Resources efforts at Westbrook and brings a wealth of experience in film and television production as well as infrastructure building to support a talented creative workforce.

Tracey Cook is the Co-President of Television at Chernin Entertainment. She most recently executive produced the upcoming Netflix series Man on Fire, starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and directed by Steven Caple Jr., and the upcoming series Chief of War, starring Jason Momoa which releases on Apple August 1. Her other credits include Apple TV+’s See starring Jason Momoa, Apple TV+’s Truth Be Told starring Octavia Spencer, and Bombay Begums for Netflix. Next up, she will be executive producing Emma Frost’s adaptation of Age of Innocence for Netflix, slated to shoot this fall in Prague. She started her career in WME's talent department before moving to Chernin 11 years ago, where she began in the film department working on projects like Spy and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

Alexis Fridman is a distinguished producer and writer with a career spanning over two decades. He began his journey in the film industry with Lemon Studios in 2002, producing his first feature film, "Matando Cabos." Throughout his career, Fridman has been involved in numerous successful projects, including the Netflix series "Who Killed Sara?", “Daughter From Another Mother”, “Belascoarán” and “Nothing to See Here” among many more. 

Lauren Goldberg is General Counsel at North Road and oversees all legal matters across the company.  Prior to North Road’s formation, Lauren has been working at The Chernin Group since 2015.  During her tenure, she led legal on a number of transformative transactions, including the sale of Otter Media to AT&T, the formation and growth of TCG, an investment firm co-founded by Peter Chernin, and the creation and build of North Road.  

Paria Sadighi is a seasoned expert in entertainment PR, communications, and marketing, with extensive experience driving impactful campaigns that elevate talent and captivate audiences. She’s held key roles at industry-leading companies, including Kinetic Content and Words + Pictures, where she successfully spearheaded promotional strategies for high-profile television programming and films.  With a passion for storytelling and a talent for blending creativity with strategic insight, Paria thrives in this fast-paced industry. Her work is defined by passion, collaboration, and a commitment to delivering excellence.

As President of Film and Television at Chernin Entertainment, Topping oversees all of the company’s development and production of feature film, television and other forms of content. Jenno joined Chernin in 2011 and was elevated to President in 2013. At Chernin, Topping has developed and overseen projects including the Oscar® nominated feature films  FORD vs FERRARI, HIDDEN FIGURES, and THE GREATEST SHOWMAN. Her TV credits include SEE and TRUTH BE TOLD.