Akin Ceylan is a seasoned executive recognised for driving strategic initiatives, delivering exceptional results, and providing insightful leadership across a 26-year career in Media and Entertainment. He served more than 20 years in senior executive roles, most recently as Chief Operating Officer of Home Entertainment and Global Content Delivery for Lionsgate (NYSE: LION).
Prior to Lionsgate, Akin was Senior Vice President of Domestic Operations at MGM Studios, overseeing the Home Entertainment Group’s operational activities across North America and playing a key role in the development and start-up of distribution for the MGM content library. Before transitioning into media, he spent nearly two decades in retail, beginning his career in 1980 and progressing through store operations, analysis, management, and buying roles before joining MGM Studios in 1999.
Akin holds a BSBA in Management from Chapman University’s Argyros School of Business and Economics and a Certificate in Contract Management from the University of California, Irvine. He has served as a Trustee of Chapman University since 2014, where he currently chairs the Real Estate and Campus Development Committee, serves as Vice Chair of the Audit Committee, and sits on the Nominations & Governance and Compensation Committees. He previously served as President of the Chapman University Alumni Association.
Today, Akin serves on two company boards — one as an Independent Board Director chairing the Governance Committee, and another in a Strategic Advisory capacity. He has reinforced his board credentials with Wharton Executive Education certifications in Corporate Boardroom Governance and in M&A and Corporate Development Strategies. He is also a credentialed Professional Executive Coach (Columbia 3CP), an EQ-i 2.0 + EQ 360 practitioner, and NBI-certified in thinking-style assessment.
From his early days in retail to leading complex global operations at Lionsgate, Akin’s career has been shaped by an ability to adapt, anticipate industry shifts, and drive meaningful change. A lifelong learner, he continues to evolve through executive advising and coaching, real estate, board governance, and industry innovation and remains deeply committed to mentoring future leaders and driving excellence in everything he does.
