a24 Executives | Leadership Team & Company Leadership

Date August 18, 2025
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a24

COMPANY INFO

A24 Films LLC, commonly known as A24, is an American independent entertainment company founded on August 20, 2012, by Daniel Katz, David Fenkel, and John Hodges. The company specializes in film and television production and distribution, employs around 295 people as of 2021, and is headquartered in Manhattan, New York City, with its website at a24films.com.

8 Key A24 Films LLC Executives

A24 Films LLC, commonly known as A24, is an American independent entertainment company specializing in film and television production and distribution, founded in 2012 by Daniel Katz, David Fenkel, and John Hodges. With a reputation for creative innovation and a string of award-winning releases, A24 operates from its headquarters in Manhattan, New York City.

The A24 leadership team is comprised of prominent industry figures and accomplished professionals, each contributing unique expertise spanning creative strategy, operational excellence, technology, global marketing, and financial management. The company’s management team is known for their hands-on approach to filmmaking, dynamic deal-making, and disruptive branding, securing A24’s place as a powerhouse in the independent entertainment industry. The diverse backgrounds of the A24 executives — from finance and marketing to technology and international distribution — play a crucial role in shaping the company’s distinctive culture and continued growth.

Key Executives

Matthew Bires - Co-Founder & COO

Matthew Bires serves as Co-Founder & COO, overseeing A24's operations and leading the scaling of the company from a start-up to an Oscar-winning studio. He has played a major role in streamlining production workflows and implementing operational processes, which underpinned A24’s success with landmark releases like Moonlight and Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Bires co-founded A24 in 2012 after working as an analyst at Guggenheim Partners for over four years. He holds a B.A. in English & Spanish from Amherst College and is also a co-founder of Half Magic Beauty, bringing a combination of financial acumen and creative leadership to his role at A24.

Daniel Katz - Co-Founder & Partner

Daniel Katz is a Co-Founder & Partner at A24, shaping the company’s creative strategy and playing a key role in the green-lighting of influential films such as Lady Bird and Minari. Katz is central to talent relations, strategic deal-making, and maintaining the unique brand that distinguishes the A24 management team within the industry.

Before A24, Katz gained hands-on experience in film development and production management, starting his career on independent sets. He earned a B.A. in Film Studies from Wesleyan University and has built his reputation on expertise in production oversight and creative development.

David Fenkel - Co-Founder & Partner

David Fenkel co-leads A24’s financing and distribution as Co-Founder & Partner, driving global market expansion and profitability through smart deal execution. Fenkel’s influence is clear in high-profile financing and distribution successes for films like Uncut Gems and Moonlight.

Holding a B.A. in Economics from Columbia University, Fenkel’s background in film finance began at Lionsgate. His extensive experience in financial structuring, distribution strategies, and partnership building continues to bolster the strength of A24’s management team.

John Hodges - Co-Founder & Partner

John Hodges is Co-Founder & Partner, known for his direction of A24’s creative marketing and digital branding. His innovative efforts have set new standards with campaigns for titles such as Euphoria and Midsommar, positioning A24’s marketing as one of the most distinctive in entertainment.

A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts with a degree in Film Production, Hodges began his career at Fox Searchlight Pictures, developing advanced digital marketing and audience engagement strategies that he brought to A24.

JB Lockhart - CFO

JB Lockhart, as CFO, manages A24’s financial planning, fundraising, and investor relations. Lockhart’s oversight of a $75 million private equity round in 2024 reinforced the company’s financial health and provided capital for further growth in production and distribution.

Lockhart earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and has held CFO roles at media startups, building robust capital markets and M&A experience with a foundation from his tenure at Goldman Sachs.

Scott Garber - CTO

Scott Garber leads technology strategy as CTO, having modernized A24’s infrastructure by implementing cloud-based production pipelines and advanced analytics. Garber’s initiatives have improved production efficiency and reduced post-production costs significantly.

Garber holds a B.S. in Computer Science from The George Washington University. He previously led digital asset management and pipeline automation at a leading VFX studio, bringing critical technical expertise to the A24 leadership team.

Maria Martinez - CMO

Maria Martinez, appointed CMO in January 2025, leads the unification of marketing strategies across A24’s film, TV, and beauty segments. Her rollout of a robust multi-channel campaign framework has doubled trailer views and increased advance ticket sales by 30%, redefining the company’s approach to integrated marketing.

Martinez has an M.B.A. from Stanford Graduate School of Business and over 15 years of experience with Netflix and Paramount Pictures. Known for her expertise in omnichannel and partnership-driven marketing, her career progression brings a proven track record to A24's management team.

Crystal Akins - VP of Marketing, Half Magic Beauty

Crystal Akins heads brand and digital marketing for Half Magic Beauty, the cosmetics division of A24, launching integrated campaigns that significantly increased social-media engagement and e-commerce sales. Akins’ leadership has directly contributed to Half Magic’s growing profile within the beauty industry.

Akins holds a B.A. in Journalism from San Francisco State University and is a Meta-certified Digital Marketing Associate. She previously led growth marketing at True Botanicals and orchestrated global influencer strategies for Kendo Brands.

Salim Mukaddam - Managing Director, International TV Distribution

Salim Mukaddam is Managing Director of International TV Distribution, having expanded A24’s reach into Europe and Asia since 2023. He secured major content deals with Netflix and Sky, generating $50 million in new revenue and broadening the international footprint for A24 executives.

Mukaddam holds an MBA from Henley Business School and an LLB from University of Leicester. He previously led international distribution at BBC Studios and practiced intellectual property law at a premier London firm.

Company Leadership

The A24 leadership team demonstrates a blend of entrepreneurial spirit, operational discipline, creative vision, and global reach, as embodied by its founders and current executives. The collaborative company structure leverages specialist expertise across each segment — from creative green-lighting and distribution to technology modernization and international expansion — enabling A24 to maintain its reputation for innovation in the entertainment industry. The management team’s collective experience and bold management style are fundamental to the continued success and evolution of A24 Films LLC.

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