Doug McHenry
DM
Quick Stats
30+ Years in Media
$1B Revenue Generated
Harvard JD/MBA Graduate
Doug McHenry
Media Executive & CEO
Doug McHenry is a distinguished media executive with over thirty years of experience in content development, production, distribution, and monetization across all platforms. As CEO of Soul of the South Television and managing partner of ElephantWalk Entertainment, he has generated over $1 billion in worldwide revenue and worked with Hollywood's leading companies.
← Back to Board Members$1B+
Worldwide Revenue Generated
Through ElephantWalk Entertainment since 1991, Doug has consistently delivered exceptional results, attracting investment from major Hollywood studios and networks.
Career Journey
Early Career
Legal & Entertainment Foundation
Started as an associate with the law firm of Manatt, Phelps, then became assistant to Peter Guber, Chairman of Casablanca Records and Filmworks, followed by Director of legal and business affairs for the company.
1980s
Television & Music Leadership
Served as VP and head of TV Content for Avco Embassy Pictures and President of Video and Film for Solar Records, building expertise in both television and music industry operations.
Late 1980s
Quincy Jones Entertainment
Served as VP of Production for Quincy Jones Entertainment, working alongside one of the most influential figures in entertainment history and gaining invaluable industry connections.
1991
ElephantWalk Entertainment Founded
Founded ElephantWalk Entertainment as managing partner, launching what would become a billion-dollar revenue generating production company with major Hollywood partnerships.
Present
Soul of the South Television
Currently serves as CEO and Principal of Soul of the South Television, a national broadcast TV network (Diginet), expanding his influence in the evolving digital television landscape.
Education & Military Background
Stanford University
Bachelor of Arts in Economics
First African American Student Body President in university history
Harvard Law School
Juris Doctor (JD)
Successfully completed prestigious legal program
Harvard Business School
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Dual JD/MBA program graduate
California Bar
Licensed Attorney
Passed California State Bar Examination
Military Background
Son of US Army Colonel
Grew up on Army Bases, instilling discipline and leadership values
Eagle Scout
Achieved highest rank in Boy Scouts
Demonstrating early leadership and commitment to excellence
Current Leadership Roles
Soul of the South Television
CEO & Principal - Leading a national broadcast TV network (Diginet) focused on culturally relevant programming and community engagement across the southern United States.
ElephantWalk Entertainment
Managing Partner - Overseeing the production company that has generated over $1 billion in worldwide revenue since 1991, with partnerships across major Hollywood studios.
Board Positions
Currently serves on the Boards of Wessler Media Corp and Slang TV, LLC., providing strategic guidance to emerging media companies and technology platforms.
Major Hollywood Partnerships
Throughout his career, Doug has attracted investment and partnerships from Hollywood's most prestigious companies, demonstrating his ability to build relationships and deliver results at the highest levels of the entertainment industry.
Warner Brothers
Strategic partnership and investment in ElephantWalk Entertainment projects, leveraging Warner's distribution and production capabilities.
Twenty First Century Fox
Major partnership for content development and distribution, accessing Fox's global network and resources.
Sony Pictures
Investment and collaboration on multiple film and television projects, utilizing Sony's international distribution network.
Network Television
Direct partnerships with ABC, NBC, and CBS for television content creation, production, and distribution across major broadcast networks.
Savoy Pictures
Investment partnership during the independent film boom, contributing to diverse and innovative content creation.
New Line Cinema
Collaboration on film projects that helped establish New Line as a major independent studio before its acquisition by Warner Bros.
Professional Memberships & Recognition
Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences
Oscar voting member, recognizing his contribution to the film industry
Producers Guild of America (PGA)
Professional organization for film and television producers
Directors Guild of America (DGA)
Industry association for film and television directors
National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)
Broadcast Leadership Training Program (BLT) member
Leadership Philosophy & Expertise
Doug's unique combination of legal training, business acumen, and creative vision has positioned him as a leader who can navigate the complex intersection of art and commerce in the entertainment industry. His Stanford economics background and Harvard JD/MBA provide him with the analytical tools to evaluate opportunities and mitigate risks.
His military upbringing instilled discipline and strategic thinking, while his achievement as Stanford's first African American Student Body President demonstrates his ability to break barriers and lead diverse organizations. The Eagle Scout recognition reflects his early commitment to leadership, service, and excellence.
Through ElephantWalk Entertainment, Doug has proven his ability to create sustainable business models that attract major studio investment while maintaining creative independence. His work with Soul of the South Television represents his commitment to culturally relevant programming that serves underrepresented communities while building profitable enterprises.
Vision & Impact
Doug's three decades in entertainment have been marked by consistent innovation and adaptation to industry changes. From traditional broadcast and cable to digital platforms and streaming services, he has successfully navigated every major transformation in media distribution and monetization.
His role at DDP represents the next evolution of his career—applying entertainment industry expertise to sustainable development and community impact. The combination of his legal background, business acumen, and understanding of content monetization makes him uniquely qualified to evaluate and develop the entertainment components of DDP's municipal development projects.
Doug's vision extends beyond traditional entertainment to encompass how media and content can drive economic development, create jobs, and build sustainable revenue streams for communities. His track record of generating over $1 billion in revenue demonstrates that this vision is not just aspirational—it's achievable.
