In a major leadership reorganization at South by Southwest, Jenny Connelly, the executive vice president of product and technology at SXSW parent company PMC, was elected by the SXSW board to lead the long-running film, music and technology festival with the title director in charge. (PMC is also the parent company of Variety.)
Connelly has overseen digital and technology strategy and execution at PMC since 2017, and previously spent seven years as an executive at Live Nation. Her new position at SXSW was announced during a town hall meeting on April 25. Connelly replaces SXSW president Hugh Forrest, who has departed the company.
According to a statement from a PMC spokesperson, Forrest “made the decision to leave SXSW” after he learned “he wasn’t going to get the CEO title at SXSW” and would be reporting to Connelly. In a separate statement to the New York Times, however, Forrest said his departure “was definitely not my decision.”
“I put my heart and soul into this event for more than 35 years — and I was looking forward to leading several more editions,” he said. “To this end, I will be rooting big time for the Austin team going forward. The city, the country, the world needs the positive energy SXSW has traditionally provided, needs it now more than ever.” Forrest started at the company in 1989; he also worked as the director of the interactive portion of the festival for several decades. (Forrest did not immediately respond to requests for comment.)
Other changes announced on Friday include promotions for SXSW EDU vice president Greg Rosenbaum to head of programming for the entire SXSW festival; chief partnerships officer Peter Lewis to chief of partnerships and strategy; and SXSW director Brian Hobbs to vice president of the music festival. Communications chief Lillian Park, meanwhile, is also leaving the company.
PMC and MRC partnered on acquiring a 50 percent stake of SXSW in 2021, when the festival was facing dire financial circumstances following the COVID pandemic, and took full control of the festival in 2023. A PMC spokesperson said the 2025 edition of the festival “marked the highest ever sponsorship revenue in the history of the company.” After launching the satellite event SXSW Sydney in Australia in 2023, the festival will debut SXSW in London in June.
Read the full article here
