Skydance Hires Qaisar Rafique as Partnerships Chief
Rafique, formerly of Warner Bros. Discovery, will lead partnerships and business development for the studio.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Corporate Finance
Qaisar Rafique has joined Skydance as executive vice president, head of partnerships and business development, based in Europe and Africa. He leaves Warner Bros. Discovery, where he served as evp, head of commercial development for EMEA and APAC.
Why it matters
The appointment brings a senior commercial executive with prior finance and strategy experience into Skydance's international partnerships operation. It also reflects continued movement of media commercial leaders between major studios.
Rafique served at Warner Bros. Discovery from May 2024 to November 2026, for a tenure of 4 years and 6 months across the company. His earlier roles include chief financial officer of Dunya TV Network from 2007 to 2010 and head of FP&A at Moby Group in Dubai from 2010 to 2013.
The players
Qaisar Rafique
Qaisar Rafique is an media executive with a career spanning corporate finance, strategy and commercial development across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Skydance
Skydance is a Hollywood entertainment company that produces films and television and has expanded its global commercial operations.
Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Discovery is a global media and entertainment company that owns major film studios, networks and streaming services.
The details
Rafique joined Skydance in October 2026 and is based in Europe and Africa. His earlier career moved from finance leadership, including CFO roles at Dunya TV and Discovery's UK and Nordics business, into strategy and business development at Discovery Networks International.
Timeline
October 2026: Rafique joins Skydance as executive vice president, head of partnerships.
May 2024 to November 2026: Rafique serves as evp, head of commercial development for EMEA and APAC at Warner Bros. Discovery.
Market Dynamics
Movement of commercial executives between legacy media companies and newer studios reflects ongoing competition for international partnerships talent. Rafique's transfer from Warner Bros. Discovery to Skydance follows this pattern as studios expand their European and African distribution.
Changes in senior commercial leadership can affect how a media company pursues international deals and partnerships, which may bear on investor expectations for revenue growth. Investors tracking Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery may watch for how these roles translate into deal activity.
The takeaway
Senior talent moves in media often signal where companies intend to grow, so tracking commercial leadership changes can offer early insight into strategic priorities. Readers following the sector can compare such appointments against company announcements over time.
Further reading
Explore more on Corporate Finance to see how executive hiring and commercial strategy shape media company growth.
