Sirius XM Holdings Inc.
Leadership History
2 leaders · 2013 to present
Jennifer Witz is the CEO of SiriusXM, in the role since 2021. The first chief executive was Jim Meyer, from 2013.
| Name | Role | From | To | Years in role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jennifer Witz | Chief Executive Officer | 2021 | Present | 5 |
| Jim Meyer | Former Chief Executive Officer | 2013 | 2020 | 7 |
SiriusXM is the largest audio subscription company in North America, with about 33 million paid subscribers. Based in New York, it broadcasts music, sports, talk, news and comedy channels by satellite and streaming, owns the Pandora music service, and runs one of the larger podcast and audio advertising businesses in the United States. Berkshire Hathaway owns roughly 37% of the company. The company is headquartered in New York City, New York.
SiriusXM makes money in two segments. The SiriusXM segment, its largest, sells monthly satellite and streaming subscriptions, mostly to drivers who first meet the service through a trial on a factory-installed radio, and also earns advertising and equipment revenue. The Pandora and Off-platform segment earns mainly advertising revenue from Pandora's free tier and from podcasts sold through SiriusXM Media and the AdsWizz ad-tech platform, plus Pandora Plus and Premium subscriptions. Subscriber ARPU was $15.32 in Q2 2026.
Chief Executive Officer
2021 – Present
5 years (current)
Witz joined SiriusXM in 2002 and became CEO in January 2021 after serving as President of Sales, Marketing and Operations. She led the 2024 combination with Liberty Media's SiriusXM tracking stock, the 360L in-car rollout, and the push into podcasts and advertising.
Former Chief Executive Officer
2013 – 2020
7 years
Meyer orchestrated the massive $3.5 billion acquisition of Pandora Media, aggressively pushing the satellite-bound company into the digital streaming and podcasting space.
As CEO, he secured incredibly lucrative, long-term deals with major automakers to ensure SiriusXM hardware remained pre-installed in nearly every new car sold in the US.
SiriusXM's main challenge is growing a subscriber base that has shrunk slowly for several years while Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and free podcasts reach drivers through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The self-pay base returned to growth in Q2 2026 with 22,000 net additions, but management expected lower full-year additions as promotions are cut back. Revenue has declined three years in a row, from $9.003B in 2022 to $8.558B in 2025. Content costs for Howard Stern, sports rights and podcast talent are large and fixed, and the company still carries significant debt after the 2024 Liberty Media transaction.
Jennifer Witz has served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Sirius XM Holdings Inc. since January 2021.
Jennifer Witz joined SiriusXM in 2002 after working in finance and strategy at Viacom and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Over nearly two decades, she served as Senior VP of Finance, Executive VP of Sales and Marketing, and President of Sales, Marketing, and Operations before being named CEO.
Mel Karmazin, the former President and COO of Viacom and CBS, took over Sirius in November 2004. A legendary media executive, Karmazin signed Howard Stern, secured exclusive sports deals, negotiated the $13 billion merger with XM, and steered the company through the 2008 financial crisis before stepping down in December 2012.
James E. "Jim" Meyer served as CEO from December 2012 until December 2020. Meyer focused on automotive OEM partnerships, generated record free cash flow, initiated shareholder dividends, and orchestrated the $3.5 billion acquisition of Pandora Media in 2019.
David Margolese was a Canadian entrepreneur and co-founder of Satellite CD Radio who served as Chairman and CEO from 1993 until 2001, raising over $1 billion to construct and launch Sirius's first satellite constellation.
Hugh Panero served as President and CEO of XM Satellite Radio from 1998 through the announcement of the merger in 2007, pioneering portable XM receivers, in-flight audio with AirTran, and the GM automotive distribution partnership.
Joseph P. Clayton, former CEO of Frontier Communications and Thomson, served as CEO of Sirius from 2001 to 2004, launching nationwide commercial service and recruiting Mel Karmazin to succeed him.
Thomas D. Barry serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of SiriusXM, managing corporate finance, capital allocation, debt syndication, and investor relations.
Under Witz's leadership, SiriusXM unveiled a completely reimagined digital brand identity and next-generation streaming app in December 2023, introducing lower pricing tiers, enhanced discovery algorithms, and major podcast talent integrations.
Billionaire media mogul John Malone and Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei served as long-time board leaders and majority owners, providing strategic direction on capital allocation, share repurchases, and the 2024 corporate simplification.
Jennifer Witz is frequently recognized on Forbes' 50 Over 50, Billboard's Power 100, and Hollywood Reporter's Women in Entertainment Power 100 list as one of the most influential female executives in media.
Witz is focused on maintaining SiriusXM's profitable automotive dashboard dominance through 360L, expanding digital ad sales across podcasting and AdsWizz, and reducing debt leverage following the 2024 Liberty Media merger.
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