Karen Jones

Karen Jones is a communications strategist and executive coach with over two decades of experience driving high-impact television publicity initiatives. In her former role as Executive Vice President and Head of Communications for HBO and HBO Max (now Max), Karen led external communications and media relations, including crisis management, and spearheaded all publicity efforts for the award-winning original content slate. Prior to her leadership role, she crafted campaigns for more than 100 HBO titles including Westworld, Silicon Valley, The Pacific, and Game Change.

Since leaving HBO, Karen launched The Jones Code, a consultancy for communications strategy, brand and executive storytelling, and leadership coaching.

Karen is committed to fostering equitable access to education and mentoring emerging leaders, especially those from underrecognized backgrounds. She currently serves on the boards of nonprofit organizations Ready to Succeed and Read to a Child Greater Los Angeles, and she is a mentor with the Hollywood Radio & TV Society (HRTS). She previously served two years as an Executive Committee member of the Television Academy Public Relations Peer Group.

Karen's career in entertainment publicity began as a freelance unit publicist, working on films with directors including Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, James L. Brooks, Tim Burton, Jonathan Demme, and Walter Hill.

An alumna of Amherst College, Karen graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in French. Born in South Los Angeles, Karen is a second generation native Angeleno.

updated 1.2.24