Albert Cooke: Celebs Rumors

Angelique Jackson Hillman Grad, the multi-platform entertainment company founded by actor, producer and Emmy-winning writer Lena Waithe, has bolstered its executive ranks with a new round of promotions: Naomi Funabashi has been named president of film and television at Hillman Grad Productions, with Justin Riley as vice president of operations and business development; Lacy Lew Nguyen Wright is now executive director of the Hillman Grad Foundation; and Marquis Phifér is head of cultural marketing.The executive appointments comes after Rishi Rajani, who joined the company in 2018 as president of film and television, was elevated to CEO earlier this year.Since its inception in 2015, and under the leadership of Waithe and Rajani, Hillman Grad has grown to include six divisions and 20 employees, rising to become one of the most prominent companies in entertainment, with a focus on amplifying and celebrating the stories of diverse, historically marginalized communities and developing a new generation of underrepresented creatives. “I’m thrilled that Naomi, Justin, Lacy, and Marquis are stepping into leadership roles here at Hillman Grad,” Rajani said in a statement announcing the promotions.

Queen & Slim writer, Hillman Grad Productions focuses on amplifying the voices of marginalized communities across all mediums.

Chris Willman Music WriterEmmy-winning television producer Lena Waithe (“Twenties,” “Boomerang,” “The Chi”) is taking a big step into the music sphere, partnering with Def Jam Recordings to start up a new label, Hillman Grad Records, with the goal of what Def Jam describes as “leveraging opportunities across music, TV and film… to capitalize on the cultural significance generated when these worlds meaningfully intersect.”Although no artists signings were announced as part of the public launch Wednesday, some key executives are already in place for Hillman Grad. Albert Cooke, the imprint’s general manager, was formerly in the artist relations department at Soundcloud — and before that, at Def Jam.