Hernan Lopez
Founder of HLFF
Hernan Lopez, the founder of Wondery (acquired by Amazon in 2021), is a trailblazing entrepreneur, advisor and mentor.
Hernan Lopez, an entrepreneur, advisor and mentor, is the Founder of Owl & Co, a management consulting company servicing media, tech and the attention economy, and author of the Streamonomics framework. He’s widely recognized as the Founder and former CEO of Wondery, one of the largest podcast publishers, now part of Amazon. Since its launch in 2016, Wondery became known for its immersive storytelling podcasts. By the time of the Amazon acquisition in 2021, 31 of Wondery’s shows had reached # 1 on Apple Podcasts, and the company was a leader in adapting podcasts for television. Hernan served as an EP on Dr Death (Peacock), WeCrashed and The Shrink Next Door (Apple TV+), American Sports Story and Dying For Sex (FX).
Before founding Wondery, Hernan was President and CEO of Fox International Channels (now part of Disney). Over his 18-year tenure, his division grew to $3 billion in revenue, launching hundreds of entertainment channels internationally as well as production and digital extensions. In 2010, FIC was a pioneer in the global simultaneous release of a TV show with The Walking Dead, in partnership with AMC. He also held the role of CEO and board member of National Geographic Channels International.
Additionally, Hernan is the Founder and Chairperson of the Hernan Lopez Family Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit established in 2021 with a share of his proceeds of the Wondery sale. The Foundation supports professional development across various sectors.
As a thought leader, Hernan has spoken at the Cannes Lions International Festival Of Creativity, SXSW, Promax, Natpe, CES, WSJ Tech Live, and numerous investor conferences. He has written on advertising and media for Ad Age, Variety and Fast Company, and holds two patents. He is also a founding member of The Podcast Academy, currently serves on the board of StartOut, having served on the board of GLAAD.
Originally from Argentina, Hernan moved to Miami in 1997, completing his MBA at the University Of Miami. He lives in Los Angeles with his family and a sheepadoodle.
Media featuring Hernan:
