Michael S Willner

Michael S. Willner spent his entire career in the cable television industry. Prior to becoming Vice Chairman and CEO of Penthera, a provider of intelligent portable video software solutions for TV networks and content distributors; he co-founded Insight Communications in 1985. He served as the cable TV company’s CEO, a director and vice chairman of the board until the company was sold to Time Warner Cable in February, 2012. Michael began his career in 1974 as the program director and news reporter for a small suburban New York cable system after graduating from the Boston University College of Communications. Soon after, he shifted his focus to general management and eventually became the chief operating officer of Vision Cable Communications, a cable company owned by a division of Newhouse Newspapers. After starting Insight Communications, Michael also became very active in industry affairs and has been one of cable's most active and effective ambassadors on Capitol Hill, testifying regularly before Congress on industry issues and pending legislation. He has served two consecutive terms as chairman of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), the cable industry's trade lobby, served on its executive committee for many years and chaired its political action committee (CablePAC) from 2000 until 2012. Michael also served as chairman of the board of the Cable Center from 2007 through 2011, on the executive committee of CableLabs, and on the board of directors of C-SPAN, and the Walter Kaitz Foundation. Michael was a recipient of the NCTA's 2004 Vanguard Award for Distinguished Leadership and a 2005 inductee into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Cable Hall of Fame in 2008.