Joanna Shields

Executive Vice President, AOL, and President, People Networks

As AOL Executive Vice President and President of People Networks, Joanna Shields is responsible for extending the global reach of AOL’s social networks and fully integrating Bebo, AIM, ICQ, AOL’s other community platforms, Goowy Media and Yedda, which combined reach about 80 million users worldwide.

Before joining AOL, Shields was President of Bebo, a global social media network, where she was responsible for all commercial aspects of the business. During her time at Bebo, the company doubled its user base, created a new business model for media companies to distribute and monetize their content, and pioneered a new form of online entertainment, combining original productions with brand sponsorship. Bebo's first, and the Internet's most successful serialized drama, "KateModern," was nominated for two BAFTA awards and secured the Broadcasting Press Guild Innovation Award for Outstanding Development in Broadcasting. AOL acquired Bebo in May 2008.
 
Prior to Bebo, Shields was Managing Director for Google Europe, Russia, Middle East & Africa, where she was responsible for building and scaling the company's advertising syndication network and establishing content partnerships for Google Video/YouTube, Google Books and Google Earth and Google Maps. In this capacity, Shields orchestrated partnerships with some of the world's largest media and telecom companies.

Shields' experience spans more than 20 years, during which she has held key senior management positions in leading technology and Internet companies. She was Vice President, International, for RealNetworks, where she was responsible for all operations outside the U.S. as well as launching the company's mobile business unit; CEO of Veon, a leading Internet media technology developer, acquired by Philips Electronics; VP and managing director EMEA for Decru, acquired by NetApp; and VP of worldwide sales at Electronics for Imaging (EFI).

Shields, a native of Pennsylvania, received a Bachelor’s degree from The Pennsylvania State University and a Master’s in Business Administration from George Washington University. Shields serves on the Council member of British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and the Fundraising Board of There4Me, the online unit of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.