Russell Sapienza

Russ established Black Diamond Global Advisers in 2017 after a long career as a senior partner in PwC’s multi-billion dollar Technology, Media, and Telecoms (TMT) practice where he served as Lead Advisory partner for PwC’s largest global TMT clients in the television, film, sports, digital, and advertising space. He also served in an advisory capacity to some of the ground-breaking digital media initiatives such as HULU, HBO GO, and HBO Now.

Russ is also currently a co-owner and advisor to Taste of Victory Thoroughbred Racing Stables. This national racing syndicate oversees nearly 20 thoroughbreds that race in world class venues such as Saratoga, Belmont Park, Del Mar, Santa Anita, Keeneland, Laurel Park and Gulfstream Park. He has also served as an advisor to racing track operators in North America.
While at PwC, he oversaw large scale offshore team that developed, maintained, and supported next generation digital media content workflow platform for a premium direct-to-consumer video service, In addition, he created PwC’s Media Spend Management Advisory Service, which assessed billions of dollars of media spend on behalf of several of the world’s largest advertisers and advertising holding companies.

Russ played a central role in the founding of several major industry trade groups such as TRUST-E, Interactive Advertising Association (IAB) and the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and has been an advisor to clients in various regulatory matters, resulting in briefings and/or testimony to the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission.

He is a frequent speaker, panelist, and moderator of TMT industry programs at forums such as CES, Cannes Lions, Advertising Week, NAB, and The PwC TMT Outlook.