John Giraldo

Former Cablevision exec Giraldo in 2011 joined AMC Networks, where he leads the company’s internal accounting and transaction services and oversees the SEC reporting function. His team of 46 professionals makes up half of AMC Network’s financial staff—all of whom have had a busy 2014 with the recent purchase of Chellomedia, now known as AMC Networks International. During the acquisition process, Giraldo provided critical guidance to the company’s top brass and legal team. While he values his professional mentors, Giraldo notes “the core values of responsibility, working hard, dedication and importance of education and learning, while still maintaining a sense of humor, were instilled by my parents.”

What’s been your company’s biggest innovation this year?

The company’s significant expansion into the international marketplace through the acquisition of Chellomedia was certainly an innovative transaction by our organization.  International distribution provides an opportunity to offer our original programming to a broader market and fits in quite well with the company’s long-term strategy.

Who has been your strongest mentor, and why?

Without a doubt, my parents have been my most influential mentors. While I have had tremendously valuable formal and informal professional mentors throughout my career, the core values of responsibility, working hard, dedication and importance of education and learning, while still maintaining a sense of humor, were instilled by my parents.

What qualities do you look for when making a new hire?

I have a base line expectation that new hires have the right combination of intelligence and technical knowledge; however, what will differentiate the successful candidate from the pack is the one that also offers intangibles such as work ethic, drive, ability to adapt to change while still being able to collaborate and perform well within a team environment.