Mike Fries
Mike Fries | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | February 6, 1963 |
| Education | Wesleyan University (BA) Columbia University (MBA) |
Mike Fries is Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of Liberty Global, an international television and broadband company. He was a founding member of the management team that launched the Company’s international expansion.[citation needed]
Early life and education
[edit]Fries grew up in Los Angeles, California as the sixth of eight children.[1] His father, Charles Fries, was a film and television producer. Fries attended Wesleyan University, where he earned his B.A., and went on to earn an M.B.A. degree from Columbia Business School.[2]
Business career
[edit]Fries started his career as an investment banker. In 1990, he became the fifth employee of United International Holdings which later became UnitedGlobalCom Inc.[3] In 1995, he was the president of the company's Asia-Pacific holdings, which included (for example) a 49% stake in a microwave relay network spanning fourteen cities in Hunan province.[4] He eventually served as President and CEO of UnitedGlobalCom from 2004 until it merged with Liberty Media International in 2005, forming Liberty Global. Upon the merger, Fries was appointed President and CEO of Liberty Global in June 2005 and serves as a member of its two-person executive committee along with John C. Malone.[5][6]
In 2017, Fries was appointed Executive Chairman of Liberty Latin America.[7] He serves on the corporate boards of Grupo Televisa[8] and Lionsgate Entertainment.[9] Additionally, he serves as trustee for CableLabs,[10] The Cable Center,[11] and The Paley Center for Media,[12] and is the Digital Communications Governor and Steering Committee Member of the World Economic Forum.[13]
Philanthropy
[edit]Fries is a member of the Board of Trustees of Wesleyan University, and in 2017, the Fries Center for Global Studies was dedicated in recognition of his generosity to the school.[14] He is also on the Board of Overseers for Columbia Business School.[15] Fries and his wife, Michelle Fries, are trustees and lead donors to the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver and are also involved in organizations including the Denver Film Society, the Colorado Symphony, Biennial of the Americas, ACE Scholarships, and Denver School of Science and Technology.[16]
Honors
[edit]Fries has been recognized with honors including Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year in Media, Entertainment and Communications,[17] Industry Leader of the Year by Digital TV Europe,[18] and induction into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame[19] and the Cable Hall of Fame.[20]
Personal life
[edit]Fries is married to Michelle Fries. He lives in Denver, Colorado, and has two daughters.[21]
References
[edit]- ^ Chuang, Tamara (20 May 2016). "Liberty Global doesn't make money in Denver, but moved its headquarters here. Here's why". Denver Post. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
- ^ Schley, Stewart (14 August 2017). "Strong leadership connecting the global village". Colorado Biz. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
- ^ Wirthman, Lisa (12 June 2012). "Michael Fries led Liberty Global through rough patches". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
- ^ Hughes, Owen (1 November 1995). "China's Great Cable Wall". Multichannel News International. Capital Cities/ABC. pp. 11, 14. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ Avery, Greg (21 July 2017). "View from the Top: Leadership rooted in people, facts and history for Liberty Global's Mike Fries". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
- ^ Castrodale, Julie (1 May 2014). "10 CEOs Whose Names You Don't Know...But Should". Minyanville. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
- ^ Baumgartner, Jeff (30 October 2017). "Balan Nair Appointed CEO of Liberty Global's Latin American, Caribbean Spin-Off". Multichannel. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
- ^ "Executive Profiles". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ Lieberman, David (10 November 2015). "Lionsgate Strengthens Ties To John Malone: Discovery and Liberty Global Buy Stakes". Deadline. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ^ "The Board". CableLabs.
- ^ "Board of Directors". The Cable Center.
- ^ "Jeffrey Katzenberg, Evan Spiegel Join Paley Board, Sumner Redstone Shifts to Emeritus". Variety. 2017-10-25. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
- ^ "Fries to deliver Cable-Tec Expo keynote". Broadband TV News. 2017-07-14. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
- ^ Drake, Olivia (12 June 2017). "Fries Center for Global Studies Dedicated". News @ Wesleyan. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
- ^ "Board of Overseers". Colombia Business School.
- ^ Davidson, Joanne (23 March 2018). "Seen: Beaux Arts Ball 2018 benefits National Jewish Health". Denver Post. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
- ^ Harden, Mark (12 November 2012). "Liberty Global's Fries named national entrepreneur of the year by Ernst & Young". The Denver Post. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
- ^ "Interview: Mike Fries President and CEO, Liberty Global". Digital TV Europe. 4 May 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
- ^ Walsten, Jessika (20 July 2015). "Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary Gala Tuesday, Oct. 20 at the Waldorf-Astoria". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
- ^ Gibbons, Kent (2 November 2016). "Cable Hall of Fame Names 2017 Class". Multichannel News. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- ^ Schley, Stewart (14 August 2017). "Strong leadership connecting the global village". Colorado Biz. Retrieved 14 August 2017.