An entrepreneurial leader and creator economy pioneer, Robert joined WMG as CEO in January 2023.
Prior to WMG, Robert spent 12 years at YouTube, where he served as Chief Business Officer and played a central role in defining the company’s strategy and leading its impact on entertainment and culture. He oversaw the company’s creative and commercial partnerships, as well as its operations. He drove the development and expansion of YouTube’s creator, artist, and media company ecosystem (the largest content licensing entity in the world), as well as the launch and growth of its paid subscription services – YouTube Music, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV.
Robert spent seven years at Netflix, where he led its push into streaming film and TV content, helping it evolve into an entertainment giant. Recruited by the company to work on its DVD-by-mail business, he volunteered to explore the potential of streaming video in 2005 and helped deliver the debut of Netflix’s streaming service in 2007. Robert began his career in the mailroom of a talent agency, J. Michael Bloom, and then worked for HBO International, before joining a kids entertainment start-up, ALFY.
Robert and his wife Luz run the Kyncl Family Foundation, which provides financial assistance to college students from underrepresented communities pursuing STEM degrees. A sought-after speaker on cultural trends and technology, he is the co-author of Streampunks: YouTube and the Rebels Remaking Media. He holds an MBA from Pepperdine University and a BS in International Relations from SUNY New Paltz.