CDSA

CDSA Board Names BBC Studios’ Content Security Chief as New Chair

Content Delivery & Security Association (CDSA), the global entertainment industry’s advocate for content security, content protection and information security, has named Alex Pickering, content security director for BBC Studios, as its new chairman.

Pickering will direct the strategy for CDSA’s mission of providing global community engagement around content protection solutions and information services for media and entertainment.

Pickering’s current remit covers content security for the British production and distribution company’s global content slate, including international hit shows such as time travel adventure “Doctor Who,” motoring entertainment juggernaut “Top Gear” and blue-chip natural history landmarks such as “Blue Planet II” and “Seven Worlds, One Planet.” In his new role, he will be supported by the CDSA’s board of directors that includes leading content security executives from the major Hollywood studios, content creators and television broadcasters.

“The global TV and film industry is thriving and I’m looking forward to ensuring that the CDSA engages with, and supports, every aspect of the content community worldwide to drive security best practice, maintain robust standards, and continue to educate organizations everywhere,” Pickering said.

Additional announcements include Mike Wilkinson, VP, intellectual property security and technology at NBCUniversal Media named as treasurer; Ben Stanbury, chief security officer at Amazon Studios, named VP/chairman-emeritus; and Guy Finley, who served as executive director since 2014 was named president. They join Shira Harrison of Amblin Entertainment, who was elected earlier this year, Jaclyn Knag of Paramount Pictures and Richard Atkinson of Adobe Systems in leading the CDSA’s executive committee.

Other CDSA Board members include Brian Epperson of Warner Bros., Bryan Esparza of Netflix, Dan Meacham of Legendary Pictures, Henrik Skov of The LEGO Group and Joel Sloss of Microsoft. Content advisor companies include AMC Networks, Bad Robot Productions, British Telecom, CBS, Channel 4, CreativeFuture, Hulu, ITV, Marvel Entertainment, MPA, Netflix, Secure the Village, Sky, STX Entertainment, Virgin Media, The Walt Disney Company and WarnerMedia. CDSA’s board of directors also announced their current working groups and committees leading into 2020:

• Production Security Working Group, chaired by Lulu Zezza of One-Simple;
• Content Licensing Working Group, chaired by Cyril Rickelton-Abdi of The Walt Disney Company;
• Streaming Devices Security Working Group, chaired by Filip Paun of Netflix;
• Technology Committee, chaired by Jaclyn Knag of Paramount Pictures

In October of this year CDSA launched Content Protection Month, an industrywide initiative designed to raise awareness at content creation companies, across all business units and service provider partners, to educate and enculturate everyone who is part of content creation to personally embrace content protection and security. Held annually in conjunction with National Cybersecurity Month, Content Protection Month helps raise awareness and make it everyone’s job at every level to safeguard content. CDSA provides the tools and templates to help content companies inspire staff to serve as ambassadors and empower evangelists to promote content security, content protection and information security while working around the world.

CDSA will host their Content Protection Summit events in Barcelona, Las Vegas, New York and Los Angles in 2020, which also sees CDSA celebrating 50 years as an International trade association in the media and entertainment industry.

For more information visit CDSAonline.org.