Tom Freston

Tom Freston is a Principal of Firefly3, an investment and consultancy firm focusing on the media and entertainment industries. He is both a former Chef Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Viacom Inc. One of the founding team at MTV in 1980, he became Chairman and CEO of MTV Networks in 1986 where he oversaw MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1, Comedy Central, and other television and digital businesses. He held that position for 17 years. Earlier in his career he ran a textile import business in Afghanistan and India as well as working in advertising in New York City.

Mr. Freston is Board Chair of the ONE Campaign, an advocacy organization that fights extreme poverty. He is an advisor to Vice Media, the Raine Group, a merchant bank firm, and Moby Media, which operates television networks in Afghanistan and Africa. He serves on several boards including Imagine Entertainment, Moby Media, Vice Media, and the think tank New America. He was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame in 2010. In 2005 Mr. Freston was cited in the Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” issue. He has received many industry honors and awards. Mr. Freston also writes a travel column “On the Road” for Vanity Fair.