Board of Directors

Rob Ellin is the Executive Chairman of PodcastOne. He is also the founder, CEO, and chairman of LiveOne, Inc. (LVO), driving the company’s overall strategy and leading both the LiveOne and Slacker business units. Mr. Ellin developed the concept for LiveOne and founded the company in 2015, raising the initial capital and negotiating festival and distribution rights. He led the acquisition of Slacker Radio and took LiveOne public in December 2017. Mr. Ellin is also the founder and managing director of Trinad Management, a Los Angeles-based hedge fund. A long-time believer – and investor – in transformative digital technology and media, he has launched, sold, and taken public dozens of ventures, and overseen investments in gaming companies Majesco and THQ, as well as Jaxx Pacific and many others. Prior to founding LiveOne, Mr. Ellin was the Chairman of Digital Turbine, where he worked with business partner Peter Guber to successfully take the company public. He also ran, and then sold, Internet media company iWon to Barry Diller’s IAC. Mr. Ellin began his career in finance, working at Eli Rothschild in institutional sales before moving to Lombard Securities. A New York native, he is a graduate of Pace University.

Ramin Arani is a 26-plus-year veteran of Fidelity Investments, one of the largest mutual funds in the world. He joined Fidelity's equity research group in 1992, covering investments in defense electronics, real estate, entertainment and media, and the pharmaceutical and retail sectors. His tenure at Fidelity included management of the Fidelity Trend Fund, and the equity portion of Fidelity Asset Manager. He began co-managing the Fidelity Puritan Fund in February 2007 and had been the lead manager of the fund since February 2008. Mr. Arani has served as a director of LiveOne, Inc. (LVO) since January 15, 2019. He holds a bachelor's degree in International Relations from Tufts University.

Mr. Arani is a member of the Audit Committee.

Mr. Berk is currently Chairman and CEO of Goodman Media Partners, investing in early-stage media and tech companies. Previously, he was CEO of PodcastOne/Courtside Entertainment where he led company operations, strategy, positioning the company for acquisition. Prior to that, he was the CEO of Participant Media, a global media and entertainment company which created content that inspired positive social change.

Berk has spent the last two and half decades leading and innovating in the fields of entertainment, media, hospitality, and education. During Berk's tenure as Participant Media CEO, the company greenlit more than 67 films, launched a digital news and social impact channel and national cable television network. Earlier, Berk was Chairman and CEO of Gryphon Colleges Corporation, a private company operating for-profit post education schools. Before Gryphon, he served as President and CEO and Board Director for NYSD listed Fairfield Communities, Inc., America’s largest independent vacation ownership and resort companies. Prior to Fairfield, Berk was President and CEO of Hard Rock Cafe International, a global entertainment and leisure company with operations in 29 countries. Before joining Hard Rock, Berk was the Founding Executive Director of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Foundation where he produced live concerts, festivals, television programs, records, and Grammy branded educational programs. Berk currently serves as Chairman of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Executive Board, is a member of the USC Rossier School of Education Board and is a voting member of the Academies of Recording, Television, and Motion Picture Arts and Science.

Carolyn Blackwood is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in the entertainment industry, spanning operations, legal and production roles. She has served as the Chief Operating Officer of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, a leading global film studio, from August 2019 to September 2022, where she oversaw the financial management, physical production, and operational excellence of the studio’s theatrical and streaming film divisions. Prior to that Ms. Blackwood was the President and Chief Content Officer of New Line Cinema, a division of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group.
Ms. Blackwood has a proven track record of delivering profitable growth, driving innovation, and fostering strong relationships within the organization, as well as with talent and financing partners across the industry. She has managed a $2 billion annual budget for film production, ensuring the quality, efficiency, and profitability of over 20 projects per year, including multiple global franchise properties.
Ms. Blackwood started her career as an entertainment lawyer, representing independent studios in complex commercial negotiations, including talent agreements and financing transactions. She has extensive expertise in creative production, intellectual property, licensing, and corporate governance, as well as significant experience in leading large teams through multiple corporate mergers and restructurings. Ms. Blackwood also serves as a board member for various charitable organizations and as a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, as has been an advisor and consultant for multiple film companies, studios, industry associations, non-profit organizations and start-ups. Ms. Blackwood holds a J.D. from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law and a B.A. from Fordham University.

Jay Krigsman has been the Executive Vice President and Asset Manager of The Krausz Companies since 1992, where he assists in property acquisitions, oversees the company’s property management team and is responsible for developing and implementing strategic leasing programs. Prior to joining The Krausz Companies, Mr. Krigsman had the senior leasing responsibilities for Birtcher Development Co. Mr. Krigsman holds a Certified Commercial Investment Member designation from the CCIM Institute, a Sr. Certified Leasing Specialist designation from the International Council of Shopping Centers and holds a California Real Estate Broker’s License. Mr. Krigsman has served as a director of LiveOne, Inc. (LVO) since April 26, 2012.  Mr. Krigsman currently serves on the board of directors of Trinad Capital. Mr. Krigsman received a BA in Business Administration from the University of Maryland.

Mr. Krigsman is the Chairman of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Nominating Committee.

Jon Merriman has over 35 years of experience in the investment banking, brokerage, and trading businesses. He brings deep experience in corporate turnarounds, all types of debt and equity transactions, as well as advising growth companies across a broad variety of industries.

Currently, Mr. Merriman serves as Head of Equities for Texas Capital Bank, where he works closely with public and private corporations across multiple industry groups, private equity investors, law firms and IR firms to leverage the firm’s resources and create solutions and drive revenue to the firm. Mr Merriman also served as Chief Business Officer for B. Riley Financial, the holding company for RILY’s diverse operations, as well as serving as Senior Managing Director, Investment Banking.

Prior to joining B. Riley, Mr. Merriman was co-chairman and CEO of Merriman Holdings, Inc. from December 2001 to September 2016. Before forming his own firm, Mr. Merriman was Managing Director and Head of Equities for Wells Fargo Securities (“WFS”), formerly First Security Van Kasper (“FSVK”), and served on FSVK’s Board of Directors. As a result of a financing completed by WFS, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of RateXchange Corporation, a telecommunications company. Mr. Merriman was subsequently appointed Chairman and CEO of RateXchange, which he restructured into Merriman Curhan Ford, known as Merriman Capital, Inc. in November 2001. Mr. Merriman holds a B.A. from Dartmouth College.

Patrick Wachsberger previously served as the Chairman of the Motion Picture Group of Lionsgate, where he oversaw all aspects of Lionsgate's feature film production, acquisition and worldwide distribution. In that capacity, Mr. Wachsberger was responsible for leading Lionsgate's motion picture business around the world, driving the international success of films such as Twilight, the Hunger Games franchise, La La Land and John Wick. He joined Lionsgate in 2012, following Lionsgate's acquisition of Summit Entertainment, which Wachsberger launched in 1993. During his tenure at Lionsgate, the company's feature film slate generated $10 billion at the global box office. Mr. Wachsberger has served as a director of LiveOne, Inc. (LVO) since January 30, 2019. Mr. Wachsberger was recognized as a 'Game Changer' at the 2016 Zurich Film Festival, awarded the prestigious 'Chevalier des Arts et Lettres' by the French Minister of Culture in 2017 and received CineEurope's International Distributor of the Year Award in 2018.

Mr. Wachsberger is a member of the Compensation Committee.