Biography

David Linde is CEO of Participant, the leading global media company dedicated to entertainment that inspires and compels social change. Linde is responsible for leading the Company's overall strategy, content creation, advocacy, operations, strategic investments and acquisitions. Participant's content and social impact mandate speaks directly to the rise of today's "conscious consumer," representing over 2 billion consumers who are compelled to make impactful content a priority focus. Noteworthy films from Participant include Oscar® winner Judas and the Black Messiah; Oscar® Best Picture winner Spotlight; Oscar® winners for Best Documentary Feature, American Factory, CITIZENFOUR, The Cove and An Inconvenient Truth; Oscar® winners for Best Foreign Language Film ROMA and A Fantastic Woman; as well as acclaimed, award-winning long-form content including Steve James' docuseries America To Me and Ava DuVernay's When They See Us.

Linde's background spans production, global distribution and building multiple companies from the ground up. Linde has served as chairman of Universal Pictures, where he successfully pursued a broad outlook regarding international productions, animation and family entertainment, and distribution. He was co-founder of acclaimed specialty film studio Focus Features formed from Universal's acquisition of the acclaimed independent production company Good Machine, of which he was a partner. Prior to Participant, Linde was the CEO and owner of Lava Bear Films, where he produced the Best Picture Academy Award®-nominated Arrival, from director Denis Villenueve.

Linde has long championed the voice of signature filmmakers, having worked on multiple films with Pedro Almodóvar, Sofia Coppola, Alfonso Cuarón, Todd Haynes, Ang Lee and Tom McCarthy, among many others.

Linde currently serves on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Board of Directors of Film Independent.
- IMDb mini biography by: Participant Official Site Bio

Partner in "Good Machine", an indie-film company, with screenwriter friend James Schamus and Ted Hope. Bought by Universal Pictures and merged into a new division of the studio called "Focus", June 2002.

Former Focus Features' co-president. Named co-chairman of Universal Pictures on 16 March 2006.

CEO of Participant Media.[September 2017].

What we're trying to do is give each movie its moment in time without compromising its ability to shine at awards season. It's sort of like having a twofold release. You say to yourself, 'I think the film can really perform up to the expectations of the filmmakers and the expectations of the company.' At the same time we're always thinking, 'If it works, what's the campaign going to be?'

[on promoting Jonathan King to President of Narrative Film & Television, and Diane Weyermann to President of Documentary Film & Television]By shepherding inspiring and highly compelling films over the last decade, Diane and Jonathan have played integral roles in shaping Participant into the dynamic company it is today. We are excited to continue evolving our content business with their expanded scope as we fulfill Participant's mandate and expand the company's work around the world and through all media