Simone Oliver is the SVP, Digital Content at BET where she leads the Editorial, Video, Social, Branded Content and Creative teams. She is tasked with bringing a brand-defining voice, thought leadership, and stability to the brand to deliver transformative growth.
Most recently, Simone was the Global Editor in Chief at Refinery29, where she oversaw the multidisciplinary content teams across the U.S, Canada, U.K., Germany, France, Australia & New Zealand, including expanding Unbothered, R29’s sub-brand for young, Black folx, into the U.K. In this role, Simone was responsible for identifying and building impact-minded, insight-driven content franchises and partnerships.
As part of her ambition for Refinery to reclaim its authority in the fashion and beauty space, Simone spearheaded a joint venture with the Gloss Angeles podcast that expanded R29’s beauty portfolio and revenue opportunities. Simone also played a key strategic role in Refinery’s continuous affiliate business growth and innovation YOY.
R29 saw historical growth in views across social and vertical video, and loyalty and engagement in newsletters under Simone’s leadership. She stewarded testing of virtual and in-person events with Unbothered’s first live event, The Glow Up, in Atlanta, and also expanded R29’s scope and voice to be more reflective of broader backgrounds, experiences and interests.
Simone joined the publication from Facebook and Instagram, where she was part of the global media partnerships teams, leading their work with digital lifestyle and magazine publishers. Previously, she was the Digital Director at Allure magazine, where she shepherded the brand's website redesign and led its digital reinvention. She was responsible for all content and brand extensions, and helped push its digital properties to the next level.
Prior to her time at Allure, Simone spent close to 13 years at The New York Times in various roles, including digital fashion editor and growth strategy editor for the Lifestyle and Features sections of the paper, as well as T magazine. While there, Simone started The Times’s first ever Instagram account (@nytfashion, now exists as @nytstyle), a defining step as she guided the digital expansion of the Styles department, playing an integral role in defining the section’s digital content strategy.
Simone has also served as an adjunct professor, teaching Social Platforms, Processes & Perspectives for students in the Newhouse NYC program under Syracuse University for four and a half years. Most recently, Simone has joined the Board of Advisors of the NYU SPS Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts.
She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, daughter and son.
Most recently, Simone was the Global Editor in Chief at Refinery29, where she oversaw the multidisciplinary content teams across the U.S, Canada, U.K., Germany, France, Australia & New Zealand, including expanding Unbothered, R29’s sub-brand for young, Black folx, into the U.K. In this role, Simone was responsible for identifying and building impact-minded, insight-driven content franchises and partnerships.
As part of her ambition for Refinery to reclaim its authority in the fashion and beauty space, Simone spearheaded a joint venture with the Gloss Angeles podcast that expanded R29’s beauty portfolio and revenue opportunities. Simone also played a key strategic role in Refinery’s continuous affiliate business growth and innovation YOY.
R29 saw historical growth in views across social and vertical video, and loyalty and engagement in newsletters under Simone’s leadership. She stewarded testing of virtual and in-person events with Unbothered’s first live event, The Glow Up, in Atlanta, and also expanded R29’s scope and voice to be more reflective of broader backgrounds, experiences and interests.
Simone joined the publication from Facebook and Instagram, where she was part of the global media partnerships teams, leading their work with digital lifestyle and magazine publishers. Previously, she was the Digital Director at Allure magazine, where she shepherded the brand's website redesign and led its digital reinvention. She was responsible for all content and brand extensions, and helped push its digital properties to the next level.
Prior to her time at Allure, Simone spent close to 13 years at The New York Times in various roles, including digital fashion editor and growth strategy editor for the Lifestyle and Features sections of the paper, as well as T magazine. While there, Simone started The Times’s first ever Instagram account (@nytfashion, now exists as @nytstyle), a defining step as she guided the digital expansion of the Styles department, playing an integral role in defining the section’s digital content strategy.
Simone has also served as an adjunct professor, teaching Social Platforms, Processes & Perspectives for students in the Newhouse NYC program under Syracuse University for four and a half years. Most recently, Simone has joined the Board of Advisors of the NYU SPS Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts.
She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, daughter and son.
