JENNIFER LUREY RIDINGS
TECH & ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNICATIONS
Jennifer Lurey Ridings is a seasoned communications leader at the intersection of tech and entertainment. As an award-winning, results-driven communications executive with a career spanning 15+ years, she's an accomplished and creative expert in publicity, events, crisis management, brand, policy and safety in the digital landscape, and is especially passionate about the future evolution of entertainment consumption.
Lurey Ridings began her career blending passions for marketing, publicity and talent strategy. As marketing manager and casting director at Boston Casting, she initiated and oversaw production of the company's first digital casting platform.
Upon relocating to California in 2004, she oversaw talent strategy & publicity at Starz Entertainment and MGM Studios for series, feature films and home entertainment titles. Notable productions include the Stargate franchise, Spartacus, Hot Tub Time Machine and Cabin in the Woods. A respected industry insider, Lurey Ridings has taught "The Business of Acting" workshops and seminars at Second City, Baron Brown and Stella Adler studios. A decision to focus solely on her passion for communications and publicity led to her role at the former Screen Actors Guild, where she oversaw PR and social media for the historic merger of the Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA, for which her work garnered PR Week and PRSA Prism awards. In her role at the union, she oversaw high-profile red carpet events, communications planning and strategy, internal communications, media relations, video production and special events, and was solely responsible for the management of the union's social media handles, many of which she originated. Her management of SAG-AFTRA's social media profiles led to a 50% increase in followers and a fivefold increase in post reach in just one year. Millions have engaged with her social photos and videos as she live tweeted five consecutive Screen Actors Guild Awards on the union's handles.
Upon leaving the union, she oversaw digital strategy and development for Warner Bros. at Telepictures, working closely with talent on Ellen, The Real, Crime Watch Daily and Extra. Following her role at WB, she managed public relations at MGA Entertainment, strategizing for products including Little Tikes and the #1 selling toy of 2017, TOTY award winner L.O.L. Surprise, along with the Netflix branded series Project MC2.
Joining Meta to lead Facebook's entertainment product policy communications, Lurey Ridings led proactive campaigns and reactive strategies for more than 13 products and policies including Watch, Live, Music, Gaming, and Groups, as well as issues around authenticity, state controlled media, and intellectual property. For better or worse, when you’ve seen Facebook in the news in recent years- from crises including leaked documents and tragic global events to innovations in IP management and successful original programming- you’ve seen her, read her words, felt her influence. In her 5 years with the company, Lurey Ridings managed dozens of products and associated launches, led large, cross-functional teams, and protected brand reputation by ensuring safe innovation. She owned work across complicated policy areas, delicately discussing issues ranging from personal identity to the war in Ukraine, distilling the most complex or sensitive issues for consumption by diverse audiences.
Currently, Lurey Ridings is the director of user communications for TikTok's United States Data Service (USDS) arm, leading all communications and outreach for TikTok in the United States, ensuring the security of user data.
An alumni of Emerson College, Lurey Ridings holds an MBA in Entertainment Business Management and resides in Los Angeles.