A+E Networks CLO Retiring, Capping Storied, 40-Year Career in Entertainment Law

Henry Hoberman is retiring as chief legal and business affairs officer of A+E Networks, wrapping up a nearly four-decade career in the tumultuous and fast-moving entertainment industry.

Hoberman has been legal chief of New York City-based A+E Networks since 2013, a span when the company expanded its global footprint and launched novel programming, including several series featuring WWE personalities.

“Henry’s leadership and countless contributions have been instrumental in shaping the company’s sustained revenue growth and global reach during his incredible tenure,” A+E Chairman Paul Buccieri said in an internal memo obtained by Deadline.

A+E Networks—owned by a joint venture of The Walt Disney Co. and Hearst— is best known for the cable channels A+E, History and Lifetime, which each has about 65 million U.S. subscribers. It also operates a host of other networks, including Crime + Investigation, Blaze and Vice TV.

Deadline broke the news of Hoberman’s retirement and reported that his successor will be Deputy General Counsel Stephanie Plasse and that she’ll transition to the chief legal and business affairs officer role in February 2025.

Plasse has risen through A+E Networks’ legal ranks since joining the company in 2013. Before that, Plasse spent nearly four years at HBO, where she served as vice president, networks business and legal affairs.

Before going in-house, she was an associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore, and at Greenberg Traurig.

In his memo, Buccieri said, “Stephanie’s strategic vision and legal expertise have been pivotal in shaping A+E’s global legal strategy for nearly a decade. 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.”

Hoberman, who will continue with A+E as a consultant, joined he company 11 years ago after serving two years as global general counsel of the Motion Picture Association of America.

Earlier in his career, Hoberman was an assistant U.S. attorney, a partner at Baker & Hostetler and co-leader of its media and communications group, and held various leadership roles at The Walt Disney Co. and ABC, including head of litigation for all of ABC’s media properties.

Hoberman told Profile magazine in 2015, two years after his tenure began at A+E, that part of the thrill of working in the media and entertainment industry is that it is constantly changing.

“As we try to ride the fast-moving, fast-breaking waves of the entertainment and media industry, I’m often reminded of the old expression, ‘People plan and God laughs,'” Hoberman said. “We can plan all we want and try to anticipate every challenge, but the challenges come as fast as the resolutions. It’s hard to stay a step ahead,  but that’s our mandate.”

Hoberman welcomed Plasse’s promotion, according to the memo, saying “I’m very pleased that my successor will be one of our own. I know I am leaving the department and the company in great hands.”

During her time at A+E,  Plasse has contributed to expanding the distribution of the companies brands across the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean.

News of Plasse’s promotion comes two months after a round of layoffs of executives at A+E, including Lifetime Senior Vice President Amy Savitsky and History Vice President Zach Behr.

Plasse and representatives from A+E did respond to to inquiries from Law.com seeking to confirm her promotion.