IMDb Founder Col Needham Transitions to Executive Chair Role, Nikki Santoro Named New CEO

IMDb, the Internet Movie Database, is getting its first new CEO in its 35-year history. Col Needham, the company’s founder and its CEO for the website’s entire existence, is transitioning out of his role and will become the new Executive Chair for IMDb.

Nikki Santoro, who has been IMDb’s Chief Operating Officer since 2021, is being elevated to the CEO role. She’s only IMDB’s second-ever CEO and the first woman to hold the position.

Needham has been with IMDb from the beginning in 1990 and seen it through its acquisition by Amazon in 1998, numerous site redesigns that have introduced countless new features for showtimes, streaming options, and IMDbPro. During his tenure there have also been policy changes such as allowing individuals to remove their age or given names from their database pages, and many more changes that have made it one of the most trafficked websites on the entire internet with 250 million monthly visitors.

In his new role, Needham will still provide strategic guidance to the company, consult on key initiatives, and serve as a global ambassador for IMDb. Needham will still be based in Bristol, England, and he’ll remain a board member with Into Film and Film Independent, while serving as Global Brand Ambassador for the British Board of Film Classification.

“After founding IMDb and serving as CEO for 35 years, I’ve chosen to transition into my new role as Founder & Executive Chair, passing the torch to Nikki Santoro as our new CEO,” Needham said in a statement. “Nikki’s strategic vision, deep understanding of our customers and products, and commitment to innovation have already delivered impressive business results during her tenure as COO. Her track record of driving growth and enhancing our products and services makes her the ideal person to guide IMDb into a new era. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Nikki and the talented IMDb team in my new role as we build on IMDb’s legacy and shape the future of entertainment information.”

“Taking on the role of CEO at IMDb is both a tremendous honor and an exciting challenge,” Santoro said. “I’m committed to leading our global team as we continue to elevate IMDb as the world’s premier entertainment resource, connecting global audiences with the content they love and supporting industry professionals with unparalleled data and insights, all powered by cutting-edge technology and a passionate community. As we navigate the rapidly evolving landscapes of technology and entertainment, IMDb will be at the forefront, delighting fans, empowering creators, and informing industry decisions.”

Santoro joined IMDb in 2016 and was named COO in 2021. She’s led strategic development for advertising, content, product, technology, and user experience and helped IMDb expand its core database and improve IMDbPro. Santoro has previously held leadership positions at Amazon, Microsoft, and The Weather Channel. Her goals as CEO will be to continue enhancing its core database, grow its advertising and Pro membership service, and its licensing businesses.

IMDb will host an industry dinner in Park City at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27, a private event designed to foster industry connections and progress in the digital entertainment landscape.