Geoff Sands

General Vice Chair of the Board

Geoffrey Sands is a longtime supporter of public media, journalism and independent film. For 20 years he has served on the boards of PBS and the Sundance Institute, where he has served as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively. He was also a long time Board member of Participant Media, the independent film producer, The Paley Center for Media and WNET.

He is presently an independent consultant working on strategy and professional development with executives in consumer tech, media and entertainment. Before that he was Executive Vice President of Comcast Corporation, leading corporate strategy for the $200B global conglomerate that included Comcast Cable, NBC Universal, and Sky. He retired from Comcast in 2024. 

Geoff is also Emeritus Director of McKinsey & Co., where he led the Media and Entertainment practice for 16 years and founded the firm’s Consumer Tech and Media practice, anticipating the emergence of technology companies as leaders in media, communications, and education. At McKinsey, Geoff was the inaugural recipient of the prestigious Lowell Bryan Award, given annually to recognize the individual who has done the most to advance the careers of women at McKinsey. He also led training for Associate Partners.

While at McKinsey, Geoff was, for over 10 years, the Industry Advisor to the World Economic Forum’s Media Industry Council (chosen by media industry CEOs), as well as a member of the Global Advisory Council on the Future of Journalism. 

Before joining McKinsey, Geoff was 10 years at Booz, Allen & Hamilton, where he was a Lead Partner in Media and Entertainment Practice. 

Geoff holds a BA and an MBA from Yale University. He and his wife, Elena, have four children.