Christopher J. Cookson

Christopher J. Cookson is President of Warner Bros. Technical Operations Inc. and Chief Technology Officer for the Warner Bros. Entertainment Group of Companies.

He oversees Warner Bros. Technical Operations, Warner Bros. Advanced Media Services and Global Digital Media Xchange. Warner Bros. Technical Operations is responsible for all video duplication distribution, video mastering, preservation/archiving and restoration of film and tape for the Warner Bros. Entertainment Group of Companies. He reports to Kevin Tsujihara, Executive Vice President, Corporate Business Development and Strategy, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

An industry leader in helping to define the technical standards for the secure digital delivery of intellectual property and the general protection of copyrights, Cookson is also responsible for developing and adapting new technologies for all of the Studio’s various businesses. He leads the Studio’s transition from traditional videotape to modern architectures, based on the manipulation and distribution of digital files representing motion picture and television content. Further, he was instrumental in the development and launch of DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) and The WB100+ Network, an innovative technology architecture for delivery of The WB Television Network.

Cookson assumed the title of President of Warner Bros. Technical Operations Inc. in 2003, having served as Executive Vice President of Technical Operations since 1997. In 1999, he was appointed Chief Technology Officer of Warner Bros.

Cookson joined Warner Bros. in 1992 from CBS in New York where he was Vice President and General Manager, Operations and Engineering for the CBS Television Network. Prior to that, he spent ten years at the ABC Television Network in a variety of capacities, including a 1984 stint as Director of ABC TV’s Olympics Broadcast Centers for which he received an Emmy.

Cookson is a fellow of The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, a member of The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (and served as ATAS Chairman of the Engineering Awards Committee from 1995-1997) and a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He holds numerous U.S. patents and has been awarded two Emmys. Cookson holds a BSE degree and an MBA from Arizona State University.