Brian Sweeney
AMC NetworksAbout Brian G. Sweeney
Brian G. Sweeney (age 60) has served on AMC Networks’ Board since June 2011. He previously held senior executive roles at Cablevision, including President (2014–2016) and Chief Financial Officer (2015–2016), and earlier leadership roles spanning strategy and digital media since 2000. He is a Class B director, related to the Dolan family, and is the brother‑in‑law of James L. Dolan, Kristin Dolan, Patrick F. Dolan, and Thomas C. Dolan .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cablevision Systems Corp. | President | Apr 2014–Jun 2016 | Senior corporate leadership during sale of Cablevision |
| Cablevision Systems Corp. | Chief Financial Officer | Mar 2015–Jun 2016 | Financial leadership |
| Cablevision Systems Corp. | SVP, Strategy & Chief of Staff | Jan 2013–Apr 2014 | Corporate strategy oversight |
| Cablevision Systems Corp. | SVP, Strategic Software Solutions | Jun 2012–Jan 2013 | Technology strategy |
| Cablevision Systems Corp. | SVP, eMedia | Jan 2000–Dec 2012 | Digital/media initiatives |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (MSG Sports) | Director | Ongoing | Overlapping board with AMCX; potential interlock |
| Sphere Entertainment Co. | Director | Ongoing | Overlapping board with AMCX; potential interlock |
| Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSG Entertainment) | Director | Ongoing | Overlapping board with AMCX; potential interlock |
| MSG Networks (prior) | Director | Prior to merger | Historical overlap with AMCX affiliates |
Board Governance
- Independence and classification: Sweeney is a Class B director and is not listed among independent directors; AMCX is a “controlled company” under NASDAQ rules, with 54% of the Board independent and fully independent Audit/Compensation Committees .
- Committees: No current AMCX committee assignment is disclosed for Sweeney .
- Attendance: The Board met six times in 2024; each director attended at least 75% of Board and applicable committee meetings .
- Executive sessions: Independent directors meet in executive session at least twice per year .
- Related‑party oversight: Transactions with MSG Sports, Sphere Entertainment, and MSG Entertainment require Independent Committee approval above $1 million; Audit Committee receives quarterly updates on related party transactions .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | $84,000 | $82,000 |
| Annual Director Cash Retainer (Program) ($) | $70,000 | $70,000 |
| Meeting Fee (Program) ($/meeting) | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| Committee Member Retainer (Program) ($) | $7,500 | $25,000 |
| Committee Chair Fee (Program) ($) | $35,000 Audit; $35,000 Comp | $35,000 Audit; $35,000 Comp |
Notes: Sweeney is not disclosed as serving on a committee; his cash fees reflect base and meeting fees .
Performance Compensation
| Grant | Grant Date | Instrument | Shares/Units | Grant Date Fair Value ($) | Vesting/Settlement | Aggregate RSUs Held (12/31/2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Equity Retainer | Jun 15, 2023 | RSUs | 10,970 | $129,556 | Vests on grant; settles 90 days after Board service ends | 42,242 (as of 12/31/2023) |
| Annual Equity Retainer | Jun 12, 2024 | RSUs | 8,042 | $127,868 | Vests on grant; settles 90 days after Board service ends | 50,284 (as of 12/31/2024) |
- Program terms: Annual equity retainer of $135,000 in RSUs; determined by 20‑day average price; RSUs vest on grant and settle 90 days post‑service .
- Options/PSUs: No director option or PSU awards disclosed for Sweeney .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Overlaps: Multiple AMCX directors and executives simultaneously serve on boards and in executive roles at MSG Sports, Sphere Entertainment, and MSG Entertainment, creating potential conflicts; AMCX has adopted Independent Committee approval and quarterly Audit Committee reporting for such transactions .
- Control dynamics: The Dolan family group controls all Class B shares, elects up to 75% of the Board, and votes Class B stock via a Stockholders Agreement and Family Committee; this dynamic can influence Board composition and decisions .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Finance and operations: Former CFO and President of Cablevision, with deep media, strategy, and technology experience relevant to AMCX’s distribution and content businesses .
- Industry governance: Experience on boards of MSG Sports, Sphere Entertainment, MSG Entertainment; familiarity with intercompany arrangements and industry relationships .
Equity Ownership
| Security Class | Beneficial Ownership (Shares) | Percent of Class | Combined Voting Power (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A Common Stock | 50,284 (includes vested RSUs) | * | — |
| Class B Common Stock | 1,767,780 | 15.39% | 11.92% |
Breakdown (per footnotes):
- Trustee/sole voting power: Deborah A. Dolan‑Sweeney 2012 Descendants Trust: 279,645 Class B (convertible into equal Class A) for which Sweeney serves as trustee .
- Shared power/disclaimed beneficial ownership: Spouse’s personal shares (21,643 Class B); Dolan Children Trust (918,981 Class B); 2009 Family Trust (70,177 Class B); CFD 2010 Grandchildren Trust (375,302 Class B); Patrick F. Dolan 2012 Descendants Trust (102,032 Class B). Sweeney disclaims beneficial ownership of spouse and certain trust holdings as noted .
- RSUs in beneficial ownership table: Vested RSUs underlying 50,284 Class A shares are included .
Policy indicators:
- Insider trading policy prohibits hedging and short sales; directors require pre‑approval for trades; pledging of Company stock is prohibited (2025) and previously discouraged (2024) .
Governance Assessment
- Independence and conflicts: Sweeney is not independent and is closely related to the controlling Dolan family; he has significant Class B beneficial ownership and overlapping directorships at MSG Sports, Sphere Entertainment, and MSG Entertainment—conflict risk mitigated by AMCX’s Independent Committee approval framework and quarterly oversight reporting to the Audit Committee .
- Committee roles and effectiveness: No disclosed AMCX committee membership; independent committees (Audit/Compensation) operate with clear charters and financial expertise; Board comprises 54% independent directors, partially offsetting controlled company risk .
- Attendance & engagement: Board met six times in 2024 with ≥75% attendance by all directors, indicating baseline engagement; independent directors hold executive sessions at least twice per year .
- Director pay alignment: Mix of cash fees and immediate‑vesting RSUs that settle post‑service provides equity alignment, but lack of performance conditions on director RSUs reduces at‑risk structure; 2024 cash fees for Sweeney were $82,000 and RSU grant fair value $127,868 (total $209,868) .
- Shareholder signals: AMCX maintains pay governance practices (clawbacks, no excise tax gross‑ups, prohibitions on hedging/pledging); 2023 say‑on‑pay approval was 87%, with feedback focused on executive severance—not director pay—suggesting manageable investor concern with overall pay practices .
RED FLAGS: Controlled company structure and family interlocks; corporate opportunity renunciation and approval policies institutionalize tolerance for related‑party dealings; Sweeney’s non‑independent status and overlapping boards warrant continued monitoring of Independent Committee rigor and transaction disclosures .