Sphere Entertainment has hired Karen Laureano-Rikardsen as global head of corporate marketing and communications.
She will serve as the lead spokesperson and oversee promotional efforts for Sphere, the Las Vegas-based venue whose film slate includes Darren Aronofsky’s sci-fi doc “Postcard From Earth,” “The Wizard of Oz” and the upcoming “Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
“Throughout my career, I have worked with global organizations to strengthen corporate reputations and develop communications strategies that drive business growth and meaningful engagement with audiences,” Laureano-Rikardsen said in a statement. “Sphere is a unique company at the intersection of technology, storytelling, and live entertainment, and I look forward to working alongside the talented team of creatives, engineers, technologists, and business leaders to help fuel the company’s continued expansion.”
Laureano-Rikardsen will be based in New York and report to Jennifer Koester, Sphere’s president and chief operating officer.
“As we continue to expand Sphere’s presence and bring our next-generation immersive entertainment experiences to audiences around the world, it is critical that we continue to tell our story in compelling and impactful ways,” Koester said in a statement. “Karen brings a strong combination of global communications experience, sound judgement and proven leadership in high-profile environments. She will play a vital role in shaping how we communicate our vision and innovation.”
Laureano-Rikardsen hails from the finance world. She spent nine years at Cantor Fitzgerald, where she served as chief communications and marketing officer for the parent company and its publicly traded affiliates, BGC Group and Newmark Group. In that role, she built and led a global communications and marketing organization, advised C-Suite level executives, and managed high-profile corporate reputational matters, crisis communications, financial communications and global brand strategy. Earlier in her career, she held senior executive communications and marketing positions at financial and public relations firms, including Credit Suisse, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein and Hill & Knowlton.
A production of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is set for 2027. Sphere also recently announced that “The Wizard of Oz,” an immersive reimagining of the 1939 classic, has generated over $400 million, with more than 3 million tickets sold since opening in August 2025.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source variety.com ’
