Shondaland president/COO Megha Tolia is exiting after three years in the top role, the shingle announced Tuesday. As part of the executive shift, chief innovation and design officer Sandie Bailey and chief marketing officer Chris DiIorio will now share the role of co-president.
Bailey and DiIorio will keep their current oversight and responsibilities in addition to their new joint role as co-presidents. The transition will take place in December; according to Shondaland, Tolia is departing to spend more time with her family.
Tolia joined Shondaland in December 2021 as its first president and COO, which was a newly created position at the time to oversee company operations including growth, strategic planning and finance. She had joined Shondaland from the lifestyle unit of SC Johnson, were she served as vice president of e-commerce and strategy.
“I am so grateful to Shonda and my colleagues at Shondaland for three wonderful years at the company,” Tolia said in a statement. “I look forward to cheering them on as they continue to tell stories and fearlessly entertain audiences everywhere.”
As for Bailey, she has been in the Shondaland orbit for years, including working on “Scandal” in the set-decorating department. She joined the production company itself in 2016 as director of branding and engagement, and later upped to chief design and digital media officer. Her previous stints included two decades in event management and interior decorating for high-profile clients including the U.S. president.
DiIorio also joined Shondaland in 2016 as vice president of strategy and development, having previously overseen the TV department at PR firm PMK*BNC. He was upped to Shondaland chief marketing officer in 2022.
“There are no two people who are more closely aligned with my vision and goals for where I want to go as a company than Sandie and Chris,” said Shondaland CEO Shonda Rhimes. “Together they have over 20 years of institutional knowledge from all areas of our business and I am excited to have their expanded leadership as we continue to build Shondaland. I want to thank Megha for her valuable contributions over the past three years and wish her the best as she focuses on time with her family.”
Shondaland was formed in 2005 and is under the umbrella of Rhimes’ deal at Netflix, where the company’s series include the monster hit “Bridgerton” franchise.
“As we enter the 20th anniversary year of Shondaland, we are honored to be a long-standing part of this storytelling,” said Bailey and DiIorio in a joint statement. “We are excited for this next chapter, and look forward to leading Shondaland into the future.”