HBO Marketing Exec Steven Cardwell Heads to Waiting in the Sky as Partner
Steven Cardwell, vice president of originals marketing at HBO and Max, is joining entertainment strategy and audience insights agency Waiting in the Sky as partner.
Cardwell will continue leading marketing campaigns at Waiting in the Sky, which works with various clients including HBO and Max as well as FX, Disney, Freeform and Warner Music.
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During his five-year tenure at HBO and Max, Cardwell oversaw campaigns for high profile series including “House of the Dragon,” “Succession,” “Euphoria,” “Westworld” and “Game of Thrones.” He led SXSWestworld, a highly publicized “Westworld” immersive experience at SXSW in 2018 as well as the campaign for the final season of “Game of Thrones,” centered around the hashtag #ForTheThrone. For the currently airing second season of “House of the Dragon,” Cardwell organized a campaign that invited brands, sports teams and fans to choose between Team Green and Team Black and culminated in a 270-foot dragon takeover on top of the Empire State Building.
Previously, Cardwell served as markerting director for IFC Films and Scott Rudin Productions, where he worked on films such as “Boyhood,” “The Social Network,” “True Grit” and “Moonrise Kingdom” as well as “The Book of Mormon” on Broadway.
“I think I speak for many clients and agencies when I say that Steven has been a source of inspiration to all of us in entertainment marketing for years,” said Jake Katz, founder of Waiting in the Sky. “He is one of the most trusted minds in the business, and his magic has been behind some of the most transcendent entertainment campaigns in recent history. I am excited to welcome Steven as a partner of Waiting In The Sky. With Steven’s expertise and our innovative approach, we are uniquely positioned to deliver unparalleled marketing that will elevate our clients’ brands to new heights.”
“I am thrilled to join Waiting in the Sky,” added Cardwell. “They have been an invaluable agency partner for many years during my time at HBO and Max, and their thoughtful approach to strategy and insights has been foundational for so many brilliant campaigns. I hope that we can continue to push the boundaries of entertainment marketing and create unforgettable campaigns that resonate with audiences around the world.”
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