Brand

FOX Deepens Creator Economy Push With Two Senior Creator Studios Hires

Published on October 8, 2026

FOX Corporation has named Bryan Thoensen Senior Vice President, Content Partnerships at FOX Creator Studios, and Kirsten McAuliffe Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Growth, expanding the leadership team the company built around the division earlier this year.

According to an announcement, Thoensen will report to Billy Parks, Head of FOX Creator Studios, and will lead strategic development and execution of creator-led content franchises, working with creators, development teams and advertising partners to shape advertiser-ready formats. He joins from a run of content partnerships roles at major platforms: Head of Content Partnerships at TikTok, where he oversaw content across the platform’s creators, public figures, media publishers and NGOs; content partnerships for Spotify’s podcast creator community; and commercialization of Originals and Exclusives at Hulu. Earlier in his career, at Fullscreen, he led original entertainment for the multi-channel network and launched the Gen Z media brand Hello Lab with AT&T.

McAuliffe will report to Katrina Cukaj, Executive Vice President, Entertainment Advertising Sales, and will lead commercial strategy for FOX Creator Studios, serving as the link between creator-led content and FOX Advertising Sales. Her mandate covers go-to-market strategy, revenue development and advertiser partnerships, along with turning creator IP into advertising, licensing and franchise opportunities across the FOX portfolio. She previously held leadership roles at Moonbug Entertainment and at Warner Bros. Discovery, where her work touched Adult Swim, Bleacher Report and CNN.

“Creators are building the next generation of entertainment businesses, and we’re building FOX Creator Studios to help them scale,” Parks said. “Bryan brings an exceptional combination of creative vision, partnership expertise and commercial instinct that will help creators grow their brands while developing premium entertainment opportunities for advertisers.”

Cukaj said McAuliffe’s experience “building strategic partnerships and commercializing creator-led businesses will help us expand these opportunities and establish FOX as the premier destination for brands looking to invest in the Creator Economy.”

The hires build on a leadership structure FOX began assembling in March, when it named Billy Parks to head the division. Parks came to FOX from venture partner roles at Slow Ventures Creator Fund and The Chernin Group, along with prior stints at Fullscreen and Astronauts Wanted. FOX Creator Studios launched in January at CES with food-focused content from Gordon Ramsay’s Studio Ramsay Global, YouTube baker Rosanna Pansino, and creators including Sorted Food, The Food Theorists and Little Remy Food.

The studio operates alongside other Creator Economy bets at FOX, including creator programming at Tubi and an advertising investment in The Lighthouse, the physical creator campus run by Whalar Group.