Richard Plepler & Michael Lombardo
Richard Plepler
Title: CEO, HBO
Years in Cable: 20+
Education: BA in Government
Best Advice: “Never let anyone monkey with your swing.” – Ted Williams
Michael Lombardo
Title: President, HBO Programming
Years in Cable: 20+
Education: Law Degree
Best Advice: Work, work, play, work, work, play.
HBO continues to meet viewers’ outlandishly high expectations with a programming slate that garners critical acclaim and HBO Go crashing audiences. Much of the credit goes Lombardo, who has taken on more responsibility with the departure of Sue Naegle. And with Eric Kessler out of the picture, Pleper will similarly carry more of the load. As several of the network’s longest-running shows entering their final seasons, it’s up to Lombardo and Pleper to keep the hits coming.
Plepler
Oscars or Grammys? Oscars
Favorite Restaurant: Sette Mezzo
Beach or mountains? Beach
Desert island album: Nora Jones, Come Away with Me
My favorite business/motivational book: The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen
Lombardo
I watch the majority of programming on this device: TV
John, Paul, George or Ringo? It’s all about George
Twitter or Instagram? Instagram
Favorite Restaurant: Hatfields
Beach or mountains? Beach
Desert island album: Morning Phase by Beck
Favorite TV show as a kid: “The Jeffersons”
The last time I had a good laugh: Today in a meeting with Michael Patrick King
My favorite business/motivational book: The Tipping Point
If someone forced me to cut the cord and only watch 3 over-the-top shows, they would be: “The Voice,” “The Daily Show,” Anthony Bourdain