A+E Networks Names Stephanie Plasse Chief Legal & Business Affairs Officer, Succeeding Henry Hoberman

EXCLUSIVE: A+E Networks has appointed Stephanie Plasse as Chief Legal & Business Affairs Officer.

She will take on the new role in February 2025, replacing Henry Hoberman, who is retiring.

Plasse has spent nearly a decade at the Disney-Hearst joint venture, most recently as EVP and Deputy General Counsel. In her new post, she will report to A+E President and Chairman Paul Buccieri.

Hoberman has worked in the entertainment industry for nearly 40 years, and for the past 11 has been A+E’s Chief Legal and Business Affairs Officer. He will continue to serve as a consultant to the company.

“Henry’s leadership and countless contributions have been instrumental in shaping the company’s sustained revenue growth and global reach during his incredible tenure,” Buccieri said. “While Henry’s departure marks the end of an extraordinary chapter, we are fortunate that he will be staying on as our consultant, and equally fortunate to have his trusted, talented deputy, Stephanie, taking the reins.”

In her new position, Plasse will oversee all legal, regulatory, and business affairs functions across A+E Networks’ portfolio, including A&E, The History Channel, Lifetime, and other global brands. Her responsibilities will span International and Domestic Distribution, Corporate, Scripted and Unscripted Business Affairs, Digital, Litigation, Intellectual Property, Consumer Products, Risk Management, Production, Standards and Practices, Rights Management, and Music Licensing.

“Stephanie’s strategic vision and legal expertise have been pivotal in shaping A+E’s global legal strategy for nearly a decade,” Buccieri said. “Her deep industry knowledge and ability to navigate complex legal landscapes have been critical to our success. I am confident that under her leadership, A+E will continue to thrive as we adapt to the rapidly changing media environment.”

With more than 15 years of experience in media and entertainment law, Plasse has played a key role in expanding the distribution of A+E’s networks across the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean. She has also managed content licensing on OTT, SVOD, AVOD, and other digital platforms, and negotiated deals across sectors, including corporate development, music, technology, and international markets.

Before joining A+E Networks in 2013, Plasse held legal positions at HBO, where she supported affiliate sales and network operations, and at the law firms Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP and Greenberg Traurig.

In an internal memo, Hoberman congratulated Plasse. “I’m very pleased that my successor will be one of our own,” he wrote. “I know I am leaving the department and the company in great hands.”