Kathryn Busby

Kathryn Busby is President of Original Programming for STARZ.

Based in the company’s Santa Monica office, Busby is responsible for leading the programming and development team for the global premium streaming platform and delivering on its programming mandate committed to narratives by, about and for women and underrepresented audiences.

Prior to joining STARZ, Busby was Executive Vice President of Sony’s TriStar Television where she developed and oversaw premium projects that featured diverse, authentic characters and that championed underrepresented voices. Some of her noteworthy projects include The After Party, starring Tiffany Haddish and Sam Richardson from Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, a Malcolm X series based on the novels X: A Novel and The Awakening of Malcolm X from his daughter Ilyasah Shabazz and a series based on Kirstin Chen’s crime novel Counterfeit.

Busby previously served as Senior Vice President, Development for Sony Pictures Networks where she developed and produced numerous projects including “Absentia” – the critically acclaimed series that aired on Amazon for three seasons.

Before her role at Sony Pictures Networks, Busby served as Vice President, Original Programming for TBS where she shepherded original content. There, she partnered with Franklin Leonard, creator of “The Blacklist,” to create a joint initiative to identify diverse new writing talent for blind script deals and staffing consideration.

Busby was Senior Vice President, Production for New Line Cinema where she was an executive producer on the film Sex and the City. Prior to that, she held the role of Senior Vice President and Head of Development for The Carsey-Werner Company where she oversaw the development of “Grounded for Life” and “The Tracy Morgan Show.” She also worked on “3rd Rock from The Sun” and “That 70’s Show.”

She started her television career as Director, Comedy Development for Universal Television.

With over 25 years of television experience, Busby is also an award-winning screenwriter, director and producer. She directed the short film Max and Josh which premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. In 2005, her debut film My Purple Fur Coat won Best Children’s Short at the Houston Black Film Festival.

She is Chair of BAFTA’s North American board that strengthens the British arts charity’s global mission to inspire, support and celebrate across film, games and television. Busby created a special BAFTA Masterclass for underprivileged students featuring industry leaders, and serves on the BAFTA Steering Group, whose initiatives resulted in the most diverse BAFTA nominations and wins in its history.

She also sits on the Board of Directors of PACE (Philanthropy and Community Engagement) and the Sony Pictures Action Council, which implements the studio’s racial equity and inclusion initiatives. In 2021, she was honored with an I Have Dream award.

Busby is a graduate of Harvard University where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in visual and entertainment studies.