Obamas’ Higher Ground reshuffles exec team before Swaminathan steps down

Barack and Michelle Obama

Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions in the US has established a new executive line-up ahead of the departure of co-head of film and TV Priya Swaminathan.

Swaminathan, one of the first permanent hires by Higher Ground after it was formed in 2019, has stepped down from her role, which she shared with Tonia Davis. She will leave the company later this summer.

Higher Ground has subsequently confirmed several appointments, including that of Joe Paulsen, Barack Obama’s former personal aide, as head of business and strategy.

Meanwhile, Dan Fierman, former president of Epic Media, is leading the company’s podcast projects as head of audio, working with creative director for audio Anna Holmes.

The prodco, which has an output deal with global streamer Netflix, appointed Mark R Wright, a former exec at media company Macro, as VP of film and TV earlier this year.

Wright, who will focus on scripted feature films, reports to Davis, who is now head of film and television at the firm.

Netflix and Higher Ground have so far released numerous projects as part of their multi-year production deal.

These include children’s cookery show Waffles & Mochi and the documentaries Crip Camp, American Factory and Becoming.

Most recently, Netflix, Higher Ground and Temple Hill produced Kevin Hart feature film Fatherhood and are now working on another film and TV project on the theme of love.