# Sphere Entertainment names Karen Laureano-Rikardsen as global marketing and comms chief

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/sphere-entertainment-hires-karen-laureano-rikardsen-as-global-marketing-and-comms-chief/
- Published: 2026-07-21T15:15:50+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-21T21:33:14+00:00
- Original publisher: Variety
- Original article: https://variety.com/2026/film/news/sphere-entertainment-global-comms-karen-laureano-rikardsen-1236810552/
- Topics: Art, Culture, Entertainment, Film

## Key points

- Sphere Entertainment hires Karen Laureano-Rikardsen as global marketing and comms chief
- She previously spent nine years at Cantor Fitzgerald, BGC and Newmark
- Will be based in New York, reporting to president Jennifer Koester

## Summary

Sphere Entertainment has appointed Karen Laureano-Rikardsen as its global head of corporate marketing and communications, making her the company's lead spokesperson and putting her in charge of promotional efforts for the Las Vegas venue. The appointment comes as Sphere continues expanding its immersive entertainment offerings, which include Darren Aronofsky's "Postcard From Earth," "The Wizard of Oz" and an upcoming "Rocky Horror Picture Show" production, with executives saying the hire will help the company communicate its vision as it grows internationally.

Laureano-Rikardsen will be based in New York and report to Jennifer Koester, Sphere's president and chief operating officer. She joins from the finance sector, having spent nine years at Cantor Fitzgerald as chief communications and marketing officer for the parent company and its affiliates BGC Group and Newmark Group, and previously held senior communications and marketing roles at Credit Suisse, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein and Hill & Knowlton. The "Rocky Horror Picture Show" production is set for 2027, while Sphere has said its "Wizard of Oz" reimagining has generated over $400 million and sold more than three million tickets since opening in August 2025.

## Coverage

- [Variety: Sphere Entertainment names Karen Laureano-Rikardsen as global marketing and comms chief](https://variety.com/2026/film/news/sphere-entertainment-global-comms-karen-laureano-rikardsen-1236810552/)
- [The Hollywood Reporter: Karen Laureano-Rikardsen Joins Sphere as Global Head of Corporate Marketing and Communications](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/karen-laureano-rikardsen-sphere-global-corporate-comms-1236647628/)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.