David Linde’s background spans production, global distribution and overseeing the complex but vital work of accelerating impact and narrative change in collaboration with films and television series, as well as building multiple companies from the ground up. He has served as the CEO of Participant, the chairman of Universal Pictures, co-founder of specialty film studio Focus Features, partner in the New York production company Good Machine and owner of Lava Bear Films, where he produced multi-Oscar® nominee Arrival.

During his tenure at Participant, the company’s productions included Oscar® Best Picture winners Spotlight and Green Book; Oscar® winner for Best Documentary Feature, American Factory, Oscar® winners for Best Foreign Language Film ROMA and A Fantastic Woman; as well as acclaimed, award-winning long-form content including Steve James’ docuseries America To Me and Ava DuVernay’s When They See Us.

Linde currently serves on the Board of Directors of the British Academy of Motion Picture Film and Television Arts/North America, on the American Film Institute’s Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors of Film Independent.