Prior to founding ZelnickMedia, Strauss Zelnick was the President and Chief Executive Officer of BMG Entertainment, a $4.7 billion music and entertainment company with more than 200 record labels and operations in 54 countries. Under his leadership, BMG achieved record revenues, profits and market share, rising from fifth to second place among major music  companies in North America.

 

Before joining BMG Entertainment in 1994, Mr. Zelnick was President and Chief Executive Officer of Crystal Dynamics, a leading producer and distributor of interactive entertainment software. From 1989 to 1993, he was the President and Chief Operating Officer of 20th Century Fox, where he managed all aspects of the worldwide motion picture production and distribution business.

Mr. Zelnick is currently Chairman of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., CME (Columbia Music Entertainment of Japan), OTX, and ITN Networks. He serves on the boards of directors of Blockbuster Inc. and Naylor, LLC. Mr. Zelnick served as Chairman of Direct Holdings Worldwide, the parent company of Time Life and Lillian Vernon, until the company was sold to Reader's Digest in 2007. 

Mr. Zelnick is an associate member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and has served on the boards of directors of the Recording Industry Association of America and the Motion Picture Association of America. Mr. Zelnick has also previously served on the boards of Reed Elsevier NV, Carver Bancorp, Inc., Insignia Financial Group, Inc. and Moviefone Inc., among other companies. Mr. Zelnick is a Trustee Emeritus of Wesleyan University. He holds a BA from Wesleyan University, an MBA from The Harvard Business School and a JD from The Harvard Law School.