Jennifer Witz Takes Over As SiriusXM’s CEO

Witz is the first female CEO for SiriusXM and now heads the leading audio entertainment company in North America, overseeing SiriusXM, Pandora and Stitcher brands 

On January 1, longtime SiriusXM executive Jennifer Witz became the company’s Chief Executive Officer, succeeding retiring CEO James Meyer. Witz is SiriusXM’s first female CEO and was unanimously appointed by the company’s Board of Directors.

“With nearly two decades of success at the Company, no one is better suited for this position,” SiriusXM Chairman Greg Maffei said in a previous statement. “Jennifer is a natural leader and brings a thorough understanding of our business from every angle."

Witz takes the reins of a company with a remarkable history of success, one that continues to thrive even amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Sirius XM Holdings Inc. is the leading audio entertainment company in North America, and the premier programmer and platform for subscription and digital advertising-supported audio products. SiriusXM’s properties - which include SiriusXM’s satellite and streaming platforms, streaming service Pandora, and leading podcast platform Stitcher - reach more than 150 million listeners, the largest addressable audience in North America, across all categories of digital audio – music, sports, talk, entertainment, and podcasts. SiriusXM is also an investor in SoundCloud, the world's largest open audio platform.

"This Company has never been in a better position,” Meyer said in a press release that announced the transition. “My decision to retire has long been in the works, and now is the right time to begin this transition. I could not be handing the reins over to a stronger leader than Jennifer.”

Indeed, Witz has played a vital role in SiriusXM’s prosperity throughout her 18 years with the company, during which time she has held a variety of senior financial and operating roles. She rose from Vice President of Finance to Chief Marketing Officer, and most recently served as President of Sales, Marketing and Operations. Her contributions to SiriusXM’s evolution and success were highlighted by Maffei in his statement: “She has played a key role in significantly growing SiriusXM's subscriber base. Jennifer will lead the Company's strong executive team as it continues building out its platforms and executes on its growth strategies."

"I am honored to take on the role of CEO and lead SiriusXM at this exciting time,” Witz commented. “We have the best audio content available anywhere and incredible growth platforms… It has been an extraordinary privilege working with the talented and accomplished employees at the organization over the years. SiriusXM has tremendous opportunities ahead.”

Witz is committed to continuing SiriusXM’s dedication to gender equality in the workplace. The company offers 14 weeks of paid parental leave, along with maternity leave education and advising, and through its insurance carrier, Fertility Solutions, a Healthy Pregnancy Program and free breast pumps.