JioStar ropes in Stephan Bugaj to lead GenAI & tech strategy

JioStar Group, a technology-led media and entertainment company, on Tuesday announced the appointment of Emmy Award winner Stephan Bugaj as Senior Vice-President, GenAI Content & Technology, as the company sharpens its focus on artificial intelligence-led innovation in entertainment.

In his new role, Bugaj will be responsible for shaping AI-native content strategies, building intelligent content pipelines and driving the development of interactive and scalable storytelling formats across JioStar’s entertainment businesses. The appointment comes as the group steps up investments in next-generation digital experiences aimed at deepening audience engagement and accelerating creative experimentation.

Bugaj joins JioStar from Genvid Entertainment, where he served as Chief Creative Officer and co-developed the Massively Interactive Live Event (MILE) format, which blends streaming, gaming and live audience participation. At Genvid, he also worked on AI-native creative tools and pipelines for filmmakers and led interactive storytelling productions that combined real-time engagement with premium narrative content.

With over three decades of experience at the intersection of technology and creative development, Bugaj has previously held senior roles at DJ2 Entertainment, Pixar Animation Studios, Telltale Games, and Hanson Robotics. His work spans AI-driven content systems, adaptive narrative frameworks, digital production pipelines and immersive media platforms.

JioStar said the appointment aligns with its broader strategy to embed AI across its content lifecycle. The group is already deploying AI-powered features such as conversational interfaces, second-screen engagement layers and AI-assisted content workflows across its platforms.

The company expects Bugaj’s expertise to accelerate the rollout of interactive formats and AI-led experiences designed for digital-first audiences, as competition intensifies in the streaming and entertainment technology space.