David Linde

David Linde is CEO of Participant, the leading media company dedicated to entertainment that stands at the intersection of art and activism. Linde is responsible for leading the company’s strategy, content creation, advocacy, operations, strategic investments and acquisitions.

Linde’s background spans production, global distribution and building companies from the ground up. He served as chairman of Universal Pictures, co-founder of specialty film studio Focus Features and CEO and owner of Lava Bear Films, where he produced multi-Oscar® nominee Arrival. Linde currently serves on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, on the American Film Institute's Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors of Film Independent.

Participant titles include Oscar winners Spotlight, Green Book, American Factory, CITIZENFOUR, The Cove, An Inconvenient Truth, ROMA and A Fantastic Woman; as well as Emmy®-winning episodic content such as Ava DuVernay’s When They See Us.