Austin Hearst

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Biographical Information

"Austin Hearst is a media executive, film producer and philanthropist. A grandson of William Randolph Hearst, he plays a leadership role in the still family-owned Hearst Corporation, one of the nation’s largest diversified media companies. As a member of the board of directors since 1990 and a member of the audit, retirement plan and investment committees for the Hearst Corporation and Hearst Communication Inc., Austin is also vice president of special projects for Hearst Entertainment & Syndication, the operating group responsible for the Hearst Entertainment interests in cable television networks, including ESPN, Lifetime, A&E and HISTORY; television production and distribution; newspaper syndication; merchandise licensing; and ventures investments. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Chestnut Holdings LLC, a private equity and agricultural development company.

"In his role with Hearst Entertainment & Syndication, Austin has produced television specials and series and acquired a library of more than 250 films. Working with Dr. Robert Arnot, CBS and NBC chief medical correspondent, he was a cameraman and producer for the 2009 documentary Rising from the Ashes, a film about the people of Sudan, and has been involved in several documentaries on controversial issues in Africa for network television, World Vision, Save the Children and the United Nations... Austin is actively involved in a wide range of civic, philanthropic and global humanitarian causes, including early childhood development projects with Save the Children and the government of Bhutan, and community agricultural projects in South Sudan. He is on the board of directors of Save the Children USA, an organization he has been closely involved with for more than 20 years. Austin is also on the board of advisors of Karuna Shecken, a non-profit humanitarian organization focused on providing education, healthcare and social services in the greater Himalayan region.

"Austin has leadership roles in many nonprofit organizations, including serving on the board of councilors of the University of Southern California Annenberg School of Communications, the board of Pacific Crest Outward Bound, the executive committee of National Outward Bound and the advisory council for the United States Committee for Refugees. "

Affiliations

• Advisory Board, Blue School