Kirk McDonald, the CEO of Sundial Media Group, former CEO of GroupM and Chief Business Officer at Warner Media, is an esteemed member of ON_Discourse.
"ON_Discourse is a rare platform where leaders don't just engage in discussions—they challenge the very assumptions that drive their industries. For someone like me, who's spent years pushing for innovation in media and business transformation, being part of this community is electrifying. It’s not about having the answers, it’s about asking the right questions. At ON_Discourse, the conversation pushes you to rethink and reimagine everything from technology to leadership. In an age where many focus on the 'what,' this is the place to dive deep into the 'why.' I’m proud to contribute to a space where we embrace ambiguity and push the boundaries of what's possible."
Kirk is a proven, purpose-driven leader who is recognized for his ability to inspire teams of all sizes to embrace change, drive business transformation and growth.
He is the CEO of Sundial Media Group (SMG), a vertically integrated media, technology and experiential company that includes consumer brands Essence Ventures: ESSENCE including Girls United and Naturally Curly; AFROPUNK; ESSENCE Festival of Culture; and R29: Refinery29 including Beautycon; Somos and Unbothered.
Kirk serves as a director on the boards of Elanco (NYSE: ELAN), and Ziff Davis (NASDAQ: ZD). He's also a member of the prestigious Executive Leadership Council and a founding member of the Black Executive CMO Alliance. In addition, he serves on the boards of directors of several industry organizations including: Co-Chair of the Ad Council, and Paley Center for Media.
From 2020 through 2023, Kirk was CEO of GroupM North America where he led and aligned the purpose of ~6,500 individuals to drive client media performance and growth. GroupM NA managed ~22% market share in the world’s largest region, growing consistently for three consecutive years. During that time, he also created and launched the Media Inclusion Initiative to support and grow diverse media companies and creators. His passion for developing the next generation of talent led to the launch of GroupM University, NA and GroupM Launch Pad programs to bridge career gaps for applicants from non-traditional backgrounds and education pathways.
Prior to joining GroupM, Kirk was the Chief Business Officer Warner Media, a division of AT&T, after holding the role of Chief Marketing Officer at Xandr, where he spearheaded the business development and launch of the award-winning Xandr brand, within AT&T.
Kirk has been recognized throughout his career for his pioneering leadership. He was named to Ebony Magazine’s Power 100 List, Empower’s Top 100 Executives List for 2022 and 2023, as an honoree at the 2022 Black Men Xcel Summit, and on the Adweek 50 List of Vital Leaders in Tech, Media & Marketing.
Thank you for being part of the community Kirk!
