IMDb Founder Col Needham Is Stepping Back After 35 Years

Mark
IMDb Founder Col Needham Is Stepping Back After 35 Years
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In 1990, Col Needham, at just 23, started what would become one of the biggest names in movie information — IMDb, the Internet Movie Database. Initially, it was a simple idea, focusing on actor and actress credits, with just two people uploading titles.

By 1993, the site went online, becoming a pioneering source for movie stats, the kind of quick facts that are now often settled with a Google search.

By 1995, IMDb had grown to 20 employees, and just three years later, in 1998, Needham sold it to Amazon. Although the sale price remains undisclosed, Needham hinted in a 2005 interview with The Hollywood Reporter that the deal, involving Amazon shares, was a lucrative one.

Under Amazon, IMDb flourished. It launched IMDb Pro at the Sundance Film Festival in 2002 and acquired Box Office Mojo in 2008, integrating it fully over the following years. Today, IMDb boasts over 65 million monthly visitors and has become a crucial part of Amazon’s ecosystem, especially with features like X-Ray on Prime Video, showing cast and credits when users pause a movie or show.

Now, after 35 years, Needham is stepping down as CEO, The Hollywood Reporter states. Nikki Santoro, the current COO who joined IMDb in 2016, will take over, becoming the second CEO in IMDb’s history. Needham will stay on as founder and executive chair, continuing his work from the company’s Bristol office.

Needham expressed confidence in Santoro, saying, ‘Nikki’s strategic vision and deep understanding of our customers have already delivered impressive results.’

Santoro, who has experience at Amazon, Microsoft, and The Weather Channel, shared her excitement about leading IMDb into its next chapter. She said she’s committed to driving the company forward and maintaining its position as a leading entertainment resource.

IMDb’s revenue primarily comes from ads, subscriptions to IMDb Pro, and licensing its database. As part of Amazon, it has deeply integrated with other services, enhancing its value even more.

To mark this leadership change, IMDb is hosting a Sundance-themed dinner in Park City, Utah, on January 27, during the festival. This event will symbolize the beginning of a new era for the company.

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Mark is the kind of person who gets way too excited about new software updates and can’t resist taking apart gadgets—just to see if they can put them back together. With years of experience in tech journalism and a love for all things digital, Mark writes about the stories behind the screens, from game-changing innovations to the everyday tech that keeps life running smoothly. Outside of work, they’re the go-to “tech support” for friends and family, whether it’s fixing a printer that won’t cooperate or explaining why Grandma’s laptop keeps showing pop-ups. When Mark isn’t glued to their screen, they’re probably building their dream PC, rewatching sci-fi movies for the hundredth time, or testing a gadget that promises to “change everything.” Spoiler: they’ll let you know if it actually does.