Gail Berman is co-owner and founding partner of BermanBraun. Prior to BermanBraun, Berman was the first and only female executive to hold the top posts at both a major film studio and television network. 

Berman became President of Paramount Pictures in 2005 and was responsible for the studio’s annual slate of films, including the acquisition of literary properties, development, budgeting, casting, and the production of motion pictures for Paramount Pictures, MTV Films, and Nick Movies.

Before joining Paramount, Berman served from 2000 to 2005 as President of Entertainment for Fox Broadcasting Company. At Fox, Berman was in charge of all program development and scheduling, as well as marketing, business affairs, and promotions. Berman took the network to number one, finding such hits as American Idol, 24, House, Arrested Development, Bones, and Family Guy.

Prior to her Fox presidency, Berman served as founding President of Regency Television, the TV studio created in 1998 as a co-venture between Fox Television Studios and New Regency Productions. Under Berman, Regency Television quickly grew into one of the most prolific and respected suppliers of TV entertainment programming, including the primetime hit Malcolm in the Middle, which she developed for Fox.

Berman also served as Executive Producer of many series including Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off, Angel. These series are frequently recognized as two of television’s most successful young adult entertainment franchises.

Before assuming the Regency presidency, Berman served as President and CEO of production company Sandollar Television. While there, she had both creative and bottom-line responsibility for all program development and production. During her six years with Sandollar, Berman also served as Executive Producer on the primetime series All American Girl starring Margaret Cho.

Berman began her career as a theater producer after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in theater from the University of Maryland. At 23, she co-produced her first show, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C.  That show was moved to Broadway and as the original Broadway production, went on to garner seven Tony Award nominations. Berman’s other Broadway productions include Hurlyburly by David Rabe (1984), Athol Fugard’s Blood Knot (1985), and The Nerd by Larry Shue (1987), all of which received Tony Award nominations.

In 2003, Berman was named to Fortune Magazine’s list of “50 Most Powerful Women in American Business” (#25). That same year, she received the coveted “Lucy” award, recognizing “women who have revolutionized the television industry” from Women in Film. In 2004, she was named to Forbes Magazine’s list of “100 Most Powerful Women in the World” (#49), reappeared on the FORTUNE list (#25), and received the inaugural Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award from the National Association of Television Production Executives (NATPE). Berman was also awarded “Executive of the Year” (2004) by the Caucus for Television Producers, Writers and Directors in January 2005. In 2006, Berman became a Paley Center for Media “She Made It” honoree.  Berman is a Member of the University of Maryland Board of Trustees, and in January of 2012, she was appointed a Member of the Board of Governor’s Executive Committee of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Speaking on: Props Shop