Sundial Media & Technology Group Appoints Amanda Butler as First Chief Marketing Officer

Award-Winning Marketing Leader From Netflix, Spotify, and Other Global Brands to Drive Strategic Vision Across the SMTG Portfolio

NEW YORK & LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sundial Media & Technology Group (SMTG), a human connections platform and the parent company of iconic brands like ESSENCE and Refinery29, has appointed Amanda Butler as its first-ever Chief Marketing Officer to lead the integration and evolution of marketing strategy across SMTG's portfolio, overseeing Consumer Marketing, Communications, Creative Strategy, Insights, and evolving Content Production into a full-scale studio. Her role elevates marketing from functional support to strategic infrastructure, aligning brand, audience intelligence and revenue strategy across media, live experiences, commerce and product platforms. Butler joins SMTG at a transformative moment as the company evolves from a media powerhouse into a culture-led business ecosystem.

Butler brings nearly two decades of global marketing leadership, having driven billions in revenue and fueled triple-digit growth for some of the world's most influential companies including Netflix, Spotify, Red Bull, Beats by Dr. Dre (Apple), and Microsoft, connecting brands to audiences across North America, EMEA, LATAM, and APAC.

“For decades, the brands within the Sundial portfolio have helped shape culture, influencing how audiences see themselves and the world around them. Stepping into this role is both an honor and a responsibility I take seriously, particularly at a moment of meaningful evolution for the business. My focus is on building deeper, more dynamic connections with our audiences, meeting them where they are, and creating experiences that reflect their lives while expanding how they can engage with us across our ecosystem. By positioning marketing as a true growth engine, we have an opportunity to strengthen cultural relevance, unlock new pathways for expansion, and help shape a more modern future for Sundial,” said Amanda Butler, CMO, Sundial Media & Technology Group.

Butler's appointment comes as SMTG continues to evolve beyond traditional media, leveraging strategic storytelling, data-informed platforms, and culturally resonant products to deepen audience connection and drive value. This next phase includes expansion into commerce, technology-enabled experiences, and data-driven audience strategies – such as ESSENCE’s Black Women In Hollywood and its integrated storytelling across the SMTG ecosystem, and the WeLoveUs.shop powered by ESSENCE digital marketplace – positioning marketing as a critical lever for long-term growth and platform differentiation.

“We’re designing a fully integrated growth engine where marketing is no longer a downstream function – it’s operating at the center of how we connect audiences, creators and commerce,” said Kirk McDonald, CEO, Sundial Media & Technology Group. “Amanda is a world-class marketing leader who understands how to build brands that resonate at the intersection of technology and the human experience. Her record of driving billions in revenue and creating industry-defining marketing functions makes her the ideal leader to drive cohesion, innovation, and enduring brand love across our portfolio as we scale SMTG's platform."

About Sundial Media & Technology Group

Sundial Media & Technology Group (SMTG) is a human connections platform redefining the future of media. With more than 100 years of storytelling expertise and audience insight, SMTG is transforming the traditional media model into a technology-enabled ecosystem designed to foster belonging, drive influence, and scale economic opportunity. Its portfolio includes some of the most iconic purpose-driven brands and experiences in culture today, including ESSENCE (Girls United, ESSENCE Studios, ESSENCE Festival of Culture®), Refinery29, AFROPUNK, Beautycon™, the Global Black Economic Forum, and the Academy for Advancing Excellence. Through strategic storytelling, data-powered platforms, and products built for cultural impact, SMTG is where connection becomes currency.