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Strauss Zelnick

Co-Founder ZelnickMedia, CEO Take 2 Interactive

Strauss Zelnick currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., producers of the Grand Theft Auto videogame series. 

In 2001, Zelnick co-founded ZelnickMedia, a partnership of experienced media executives and investors. The firm manages and owns interests in an array of media enterprises, including video games and interactive entertainment, television advertising, wireless network enabling software, business information, tradeshows and media-related business services.

Prior to forming ZelnickMedia, Mr. Zelnick was President and Chief Executive Officer of BMG Entertainment, a $4.7 billion music and entertainment company with more than 200 record labels and operations in 54 countries.  

Before joining BMG Entertainment, Mr. Zelnick was President and Chief Executive Officer of Crystal Dynamics, a producer and distributor of interactive entertainment software. Prior to that, he spent four years as President and Chief Operating Officer of 20th Century Fox, where he managed all aspects of Fox Inc.’s worldwide motion picture production and distribution business. Previously, he spent three years at Vestron Inc., two as the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Zelnick also served as Vice President, International Television at Columbia Pictures.

Mr. Zelnick is a director of Starwood Property Group, Inc. and served previously on the boards of Reed Elsevier NV, Carver Bancorp, Inc., Insignia Financial Group, Inc. and Moviefone Inc., among other companies. He is a Trustee Emeritus of Wesleyan University and holds a BA from Wesleyan University, an MBA from The Harvard Business School and a JD from The Harvard Law School.