The media company founded by Hello Sunshine, Reese Witherspoon, has switched CEOs.
Maureen Polo, formerly head of consumer director at Hello Sunshine, has been appointed CEO. She will replace Sarah Harden, who has stepped down as top executive, and in 2026 will “stay with the company as an advisor to support the transition and continue strategic growth,” Hello Sunshine said.
Polo will work with Lauren Neustadter, president of film and television at Hello Sunshine, and Corey Shepardson, who has been promoted to the role of COO leading business operations while maintaining CFO.
“Sarah Harden’s extraordinary leadership and unwavering support laid the foundation for Hello Sunshine’s success,” Witherspoon said in a statement. “From our first meeting, when we discussed bringing our shared values and passion for storytelling to the world, Sarah’s mentoring and friendship was invaluable to me. I’m proud of the bold and innovative company we’ve built together with our most talented teams: Maureen, Lauren and our executive team.”
As direct consumer head of Hello Sunshine, Polo oversees all social, editorial, marketing, communications and DTC brands, including Reese’s Book Club, which has selected 116 books since its release in 2017. “The Bright Side” podcast. Solar, an in-house social branding agency. and Sunnie, a media and lifestyle brand focused on Gen Z.
Prior to joining the company in 2022, he led marketing strategies and solutions for WarnerMedia’s entertainment portfolio, including HBO MAX, TBS, TRUTV, Adult Swim and Manga Network. Previously, as the full-screen general manager of Creator Network, Polo oversaw over 350 employees and guided strategy across revenue, marketing, creative, production and operations.
In a statement, Polo said: “Hello Sunshine’s mission is consistent with my personal passion and it’s an incredible honor to continue and scale this business with Lease and our exceptional team. I have had over a decade of opportunity to work and learn with Sarah.
“We are deeply grateful to have been a partner in Lease with this beautiful ride,” Harden said in a statement provided by Hello Sunshine.
Hello Sunshine is part of Candle Media, a media and entertainment rollup venture led by co-chairs and co-CEOS Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs (both former Disney executives). The candles are supported by Blackstone’s private equity business.
Founded in 2016, Hello Media was originally a partnership between Peter Chernin’s Chernin Group and AT&T. Harden served as interim CEO of Hello Sunshine in June 2017 before taking on a full-time role in January 2018. She was previously president of Otter Media.
Candle Media acquired Hello Sunshine in 2021 in a deal worth more than $900 million, Variety reported.
Hello Sunshine’s most notable current television production is Apple TV+’s award-winning “The Morning Show.” It will star in Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, with season 4 scheduled to drop on streamers on September 17th. HelloSunshine is behind “Lucky,” starring Apple TV+’s Anya Taylor-Joy of Apple TV+. Additionally, the company’s “El,” a prequel series to the “legally blonde” film starring Witherspoon, recently wrapped up production in season one. I’m coming to Amazon Prime Video.
The company’s TV slate also includes “Small Fires Everywhere” (Hulu), “Surface” and “Truth Be Thans” (Apple TV+), “From Strated” (Netflix), “Big Little Lies” Season 2 (HBO), and “Daisy Jones & The Six” (Prime Video).
Hello Sunshine has also released four films. Zoey Deutch (Prime Video) stars “You’re Cordially Invited” and “Tiffany’s From Tiffany’s.” “Your Place or Me”; and “The Place Where Claudad Sings”, its first theatrical release. The next film project is adaptation of The Nightingale and Tristar, which are scheduled to begin filming in early 2026.
Photo above: Maureen Polo (l.), Sarah Harden
