Col Needham, the founder of IMDb, the entertainment information site launched in 1990, has stepped down as CEO of the Amazon-owned company. Needham has transitioned to the role of executive chair of IMDb. Nikki Santoro, previously IMDb’s chief operating officer since 2021, has been named CEO, becoming only the second person to hold the position in the site’s 35-year history.
In his new role, Needham will “provide strategic guidance, consult on key initiatives and serve as a global ambassador” for IMDb, as stated by the company. He will remain based in IMDb’s Bristol, England, office and continue serving on the boards of Into Film and Film Independent. Additionally, Needham will act as a global brand ambassador for the British Board of Film Classification.
Amazon acquired IMDb in 1998 for $55 million, marking one of its first major acquisitions.
“After founding IMDb and serving as CEO for 35 years, I’ve chosen to transition into my new role as founder and executive chair, passing the torch to Nikki Santoro as our new CEO,” Needham said in a statement. “Nikki’s strategic vision, deep understanding of our customers and products, and commitment to innovation have already delivered impressive business results during her tenure as COO.” He added that her “track record of driving growth and enhancing our products and services makes her the ideal person to guide IMDb into a new era.”
IMDb grew out of a personal movie database Needham started as a teenager, later integrating similar data from the internet in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Before IMDb, Needham launched a computer games software business at 14, earned a computer science degree at Leeds University, and pursued a career in technology research in Bristol.
Santoro, who joined IMDb in 2016, initially served as head of consumer and advertising product before becoming general manager of IMDb’s consumer division. As COO, she led strategic initiatives in advertising, content, technology, and user experience while managing the financial performance of IMDb’s businesses. Her career also includes leadership roles at Amazon, Microsoft, and the Weather Channel.
“Taking on the role of CEO at IMDb is both a tremendous honor and an exciting challenge,” Santoro said. “I’m committed to leading our global team as we continue to elevate IMDb as the world’s premier entertainment resource, connecting global audiences with the content they love and supporting industry professionals with unparalleled data and insights, all powered by cutting-edge technology and a passionate community.”
IMDb, which attracts 250 million monthly visitors, serves both entertainment fans and industry professionals. Its offerings include a website, mobile apps for iOS and Android, and X-Ray on Prime Video, which provides additional movie and TV show details. For professionals, IMDb offers IMDbPro and Box Office Mojo, and licenses its database information to third-party companies globally.
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