Bill Nelson, Chairman & CEO, HBO

Since its debut in 1972, HBO-the world's largest premium television company-has made an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. From The Sopranos to Sex and the City to Six Feet Under, HBO brings award-winning original programming to millions of households in over 150 countries worldwide. At its helm is Bill Nelson, chairman and CEO of the company and a fixture at HBO since 1984. Nelson has held a number of senior positions over the years, including CFO and COO, and currently oversees HBO's multiple premium networks, branded joint ventures, On Demand services, and other ancillary businesses both domestically and abroad. Previously, he was at Time Inc. as director of external reporting and risk management and was an audit supervisor for Ernst & Young. A graduate of Pace University, Nelson also served in Vietnam with the US Army's 101st Airborne Division.