Gerry Byrne launched his media and entertainment consultancy, FidelisGlobal Enterprises LLC, on January 1, 2010. His decades of accomplishments as a media executive, entrepreneur and community leader are highlighted by a long time run as publisher of Variety where he dramatically transformed that business into a powerful, diversified, global media brand. Mr. Byrne, the start-up publisher of both Electronic Media and Crain's New York Business, also successfully created The Quill Awards for NBC before he led a division of Nielsen that included The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard. Byrne is Managing Partner of BlackOcean, a vertically integrated internet, media and technology company. He is also Executive Chairman of AdGenesis, a technology and software company that enables brands to deliver relevant advertising to targeted opt-in audiences who are then rewarded for their views/engagement. Other Fidelis relationships and clients include Stan Lee's POW! Entertainment, David Clark Cause LLC, App Nation, 212 Media, Recognition Media (parent of the Webby Awards), PMC(Hollywoodlife.com, Deadline Hollywood.com) and, Washington Life Magazine where he serves as Executive Chairman.
A staunch believer in "participation", Mr. Byrne is on the boards of numerous not-for-profits including The Fisher House Foundation, The Intrepid Museum Foundation, VeteransAdvantage, The Veteran's Healing Initiative, The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation, The Creative Coalition, The Hamptons International Film Festival, The Reisenbach Foundation, The Armory Foundation and The New York City Police Museum. Annually for 14 years, Mr. Byrne and fellow Marine, Actor Harvey Keitel, host a Birthday Gala on Intrepid to support Fisher Houses. He also serves on the Board of Fordham University's Graduate School of Business. Mr. Byrne was awarded the "Salah M. Hassanein Humanitarian Award" at ShowEast '96, New York's Elaine Kaufman Cultural Center's 2002 Distinguished Service Award and the NYPD Marine Corps Association 2002 "Semper Fi" Award for his work in the community. And in June 2009, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg presented Mr. Byrne the "Made in New York" Award for his support of the Gotham's entertainment and media industries. Mr. Byrne is a member of The British Academy of Film & Television Arts, The New York AC, and The Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick.
A 1966 graduate of Fordham College, Mr. Byrne served as a Marine Officer* in Vietnam in 1968/69 and was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V