Kathleen Grace, an experienced professional in the AI industry, has been appointed as the inaugural Chief AI Officer at Lionsgate. In her new role, Grace will collaborate closely with Lionsgate Vice Chairman Michael Burns and other top executives within the company to steer its AI strategy and implementation. She will also be instrumental in providing resources to support the artistic vision of filmmakers, enhancing operational efficiencies in production, marketing, distribution, and administration, as well as leading efforts to safeguard the intellectual property of the studio and its talent partners. Reporting directly to Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer, Grace will play a key role within the senior decision-making team of the studio.
Earlier in September 2024, Lionsgate had disclosed its partnership with Runway, an AI research firm, to develop a specialized AI model tailored for the needs of its filmmakers. Prior to joining Lionsgate, Kathleen Grace held the position of Chief Strategy Officer at Vermillio, an AI company known for pioneering a platform focused on licensing and protecting intellectual property and likeness rights. Feltheimer expressed confidence in Grace’s ability to navigate the intricate landscape of the AI industry given her unique perspective from both a creator and IP holder standpoint.
Feltheimer added that Kathleen’s deep expertise in AI and digital media would be invaluable in fostering growth opportunities alongside talent partners while implementing innovative strategies and safeguards. Vermillio Co-Founder & CEO Dan Neely commended Grace for assuming a groundbreaking role as the first Chief AI Officer within a major Hollywood studio. Expressing her enthusiasm about joining Lionsgate, Grace praised the company’s collaborative environment, diverse IP portfolio, progressive culture, and openness to embracing cutting-edge technologies.
During her tenure at Vermillio as Chief Strategy Officer, Grace was instrumental in enabling content owners and talent to monitor, verify, and receive compensation for their work used in AI models. She also led initiatives at New Form, a digital studio backed by industry figures like Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, where she oversaw the development and sale of numerous series to various networks and platforms. Furthermore, she spearheaded YouTube’s global Spaces project by establishing creator studios across key cities worldwide.
Grace boasts creator credits on notable projects such as The Burg, Vuguru’s The All for Notes, and Facebook Watch’s 365 Days of Love featuring Sofía Vergara.