Amazon MGM Studios announced Tuesday that global awards chief Deborah Birnbaum will step down to take over as editor-in-chief of Penske Media Corp.’s Gold Derby prediction platform. As part of the news, Gold Derby founder and president Tom O’Neill will retire from day-to-day oversight of the site and serve as chairman emeritus.
In a statement, PMC Chairman/Founder/CEO Jay Penske thanked O’Neill “for his visionary leadership and tremendous contributions to Gold Derby. Tom built Gold Derby from the ground up and made it the go-to online destination for in-depth prize predictions and industry analysis. We know Deborah is the perfect person to build on that legacy as we head into the brand’s 25th year.”
Birnbaum will take over Gold Derby on September 16 — the day after the Primetime Emmys, which will mark her farewell to Amazon. At Gold Derby, she will oversee the platform’s coverage of awards shows such as the Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Golden Globes, as well as other awards and events. Birnbaum will report to Tom Finn, PMC’s executive vice president and general manager of operations, and will continue to be based in Los Angeles.
“There is no one more qualified than DePera to lead the Gold Derby brand into the future,” said O’Neill. “I eagerly welcome her to take the reins and am excited to see where she will lead us in our exciting future.”
At Amazon MGM Studios, Birnbaum helped build the brand into an awards powerhouse, most recently earning 62 Emmy nominations — including major nominations for “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” and “Fallout” on Prime Video. Her records there include 12 Oscar nominations in 2021, 68 Emmy nominations in 2023, and 16 Golden Globe nominations in 2023.
“It is a true honor to take over the reins at Gold Derby,” Birnbaum said in a statement. “I know firsthand how much respect and support the entertainment industry has for the site, and I am eager to expand its position as the premier home of awards predictions. I could not be more grateful to Jennifer Salke and Sue Kroll for all their support, and I am so proud of what we have accomplished at Amazon MGM Studios, including our recent Emmy nominations for Fallout, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Red, White & Royal Blue, and more.”
In a memo to employees, Amazon MGM Studios' chief marketing officer, Sue Kroll, announced that following Birnbaum's departure next Monday, Brooke Ford will take over as awards chief on an interim basis.
“Please join me in thanking her and the entire awards team for all the amazing work on behalf of the studio — including our recent round of groundbreaking Emmy nominations and Creative Arts Emmy win,” Kroll wrote in a memo to employees. “We will continue to work with Deb as she takes on a new role at Gold Derby. As many of you know, Deb spent her career in media prior to joining Amazon and this move brings both worlds together… Please rest assured that we have an entire team dedicated to striving to recognize excellence in our films and series.”
Prior to joining Amazon, Birnbaum spent five years as executive editor of television at diversePrior to that, she was editor-in-chief of TV Guide magazine for seven years. Her resume also includes stints at Redbook, George & More, The New York Post, and Us Weekly. Her work has been recognized by the LA Press Club, the Publicists Guild of America, the Webby Awards, the Clio Awards, Promax, and the Television Academy, where she won an Emmy for producing the Variety series “Actors on Actors.”
Birnbaum is a member of the Board of Directors of the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA), a member of the Cornell University President's Council for Women, and serves as a Cornell University Alumni Ambassador. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, the Television Academy, and the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
