Desiree Gruber
{{short description|American publicist}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Desiree Gruber
| image = Desiree Gruber.jpg
| caption = Gruber in 2019.
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1967|6|25}}
| birth_place = Miami, Florida, United States
| occupation = Television producer, entrepreneur, fashion publicist, venture capitalist
| title = CEO of Full Picture
Co-Founder of DGNL Ventures
| website = {{URL| https://www.fullpicture.com}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Kyle MacLachlan|2002||=}}
| known_for = Project Runway, Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
| boards = {{Plainlist|
- Tech:NYC
- U.S. Fund for UNICEF New York Regional
- God's Love We Deliver
}}
| children = 1
}}
Desiree Gruber (born June 25, 1967) is an American television producer and entrepreneur. She was the executive producer of the fashion reality television competition Project Runway and the co-creator of Theodora and Callum, "an accessories-based line inspired by world travel."{{Cite web|title=Desiree Gruber {{!}} HuffPost|url=https://www.huffpost.com/author/desiree-gruber|website=www.huffpost.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-19}} She is also the founder and CEO of a production company, Full Picture.
Early life and career
Gruber was born on June 25, 1967, in Miami, Florida.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/desiree-gruber-celebrates-her-birthday-with-heidi-klum-at-news-photo/983991060 |title=Celebrity Sightings in New York City - June 25, 2018 |website=Getty Images |date=June 25, 2018 | publication-date=June 26, 2018 |location=New York | quote=Desiree Gruber celebrates her birthday with Heidi Klum at El Toro Blanco on June 25, 2018 in New York City | first=James | last=Devaney }} In an interview with Daily Front Row, Gruber said that her father was a businessman and a green beret and he had her enrolled in ROTC when she was in college, which helped her build leadership skills.
She started her professional career as an assistant in the A&R department for EMI Records in 1989, and as the general assistant on the New Music Seminar in 1990.
In 1991, she joined the marketing agency Rogers & Cowan as an assistant publicist, later promoted to director of entertainment, and eventually to vice president of entertainment in 1997. During her time there, she helped in the publicizing and branding of Victoria's Secret, The Limited Inc., and Elite Model Management. She also worked on U2's PopMart Tour and Miramax Films. In 1995, she produced the inaugural Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and has since produced the annual events for over 20 years.
In 1999, she left Rogers & Cowan to establish her own production company, Full Picture.{{Cite web |url=https://www.technyc.org/board-members/desiree-gruber |title=Desiree Gruber |website=Tech:NYC |access-date=2019-08-22}} In the beginning, her works included Victoria's Secret supermodel Heidi Klum and designer Roberto Cavalli. She developed a reality television series Project Runway along with Klum and Full Picture's executive Jane Cha. She had also done some advising to supermodel Naomi Campbell.
In 2016, she joined Nir Liberboim to co-found DGNL Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund that has invested in brands including Living Proof, Songza, and Fashion GPS (Launchmetrics).{{Cite web|url=https://www.dgnl.vc/ourteam|title=Our Team|work=DGNL Ventures | access-date=August 22, 2019}}{{cite web | url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1671407/000167140716000002/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml | title=SEC Form D – DGNL Ventures | year=2016 | via=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | format=xml }}{{Cite web|url=https://businessradio.wharton.upenn.edu/people/nir-liberboim/|title=Nir Liberboim | work= Wharton Business Radio | publisher=Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania | access-date=August 22, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.venturedeal.com/VentureCapitalFirmProfiles/DGNL%20Ventures.aspx|title=DGNL Ventures Venture Capital Profile {{!}} VentureDeal|website=www.venturedeal.com|access-date=2019-10-17}}
Philanthropy
In 2016, Gruber worked with the former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama on her "Let Girls Learn" campaign.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7262719/diane-warren-michelle-obama-this-is-for-my-girls-interview |title=Diane Warren Explains How Michelle Obama's 'This Is for My Girls' All-Star Anthem Came to Be: Exclusive |last=Hernandez |first=Brian Anthony |date=March 15, 2016 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=2019-08-22}}
Gruber currently serves on the New York regional board for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.{{Cite press release | first=Meghan |last=Gambichler |url=http://riverdalepress.com/stories/14th-annual-unicef-snowflake-ball,67331|title=14th Annual UNICEF Snowflake Ball|via=Riverdale Press}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ringo-starr-says-step-up-kids-at-unicef-snowflake-ball-2018-1164522|title=Ringo Starr Calls on U.S., Britain to "Step Up for the Kids" at UNICEF Snowflake Ball|date=November 28, 2018 | first=Allison | last=Crist | work=The Hollywood Reporter}} She is also a board member of "God's Love We Deliver", which provides meals for people living with life-threatening illnesses.{{Cite news|url=https://www.gaycitynews.nyc/stories/2008/6/w11616-twenty-years-gods-love-2008-03-20.html|title=Twenty years of God's Love|work=Gay City News | date=March 20, 2008 }}
Personal life
File:Desiree Gruber Kyle MacLachlan VF 2012 Shankbone.JPG
Gruber met and began a relationship with actor Kyle MacLachlan in 1999. They married on April 20, 2002. Their son, Callum Lyon MacLachlan, was born in Los Angeles in 2008. The family has residences in Los Angeles and New York.{{cite news|last=David|first=Mark|title=Kyle MacLachlan To Let Sunset Strip Pad|url=https://variety.com/2014/dirt/real-estate/kyle-maclachlan-to-let-sunset-strip-pad-1201314835/|work=Variety|date=September 30, 2014}} They have two dogs, Mookie and Sam.{{Cite news|url=https://animalfair.com/2006/07/27/desiree-gruber-dogs-sam-mookie-care-business/|title=Desiree Gruber And Her Dogs, Sam & Mookie, Are Taking Care Of Business|first=Wendy|last=Diamond|date=July 27, 2006 | work= Animal Fair}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/kyle-maclachlans-web-series-about-his-dogs-is-weirder-than-twin-peaks/|title=Kyle MacLachlan's Web Series About His Dogs Is Weirder Than 'Twin Peaks'|first=Katherine|last=Gillespie|date=June 27, 2017|work=Vice}}
Awards and recognition
Gruber was one of Fortune magazine's Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs of 2010. As an executive producer, Gruber was part of Project Runway, which was nominated for 14 Emmy Awards in Outstanding Reality Television Program,{{Cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/desiree-gruber|title=Desiree Gruber|work=Emmy Awards|access-date=2019-10-17}} received a Peabody Award in 2007,{{cite web |title=Project Runway |url=http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/project-runway |website=www.peabodyawards.com |accessdate=November 25, 2019 |language=en}} a GLAAD Media Award, and "has also been honored with over twenty media industry awards."{{Cite web|title=About Desiree Gruber and her Latest Endeavor, DGNL|url=https://medium.com/@andrea1Ham/about-desiree-gruber-and-her-latest-endeavor-dgnl-87a0db670f52|last=Hamilton|first=Andrea|date=2017-10-07|website=Medium|language=en|access-date=2020-05-19}}
References
{{reflist|refs=
{{Cite news |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/celeb-holiday-destinations-slideshow |title=Where Jonathan Adler, Simon Doonan, Lauren Graham, and Peter Som go to get away from it all |last=Turner |first=Nathan |date=November 30, 2014 |work=Architectural Digest |publisher=Conde Nast}}
{{Cite news |url=https://www.adweek.com/tv-video/kyle-maclachlan-twin-peaks-desiree-gruber/ |title=Kyle MacLachlan's 2001 Oscar Weekend Whirlwind |last=Horgan |first=Richard |date=May 6, 2017 |work=Adweek}}
{{Cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=51329837&privcapId=51225271&previousCapId=246261956&previousTitle=SmartHome%20Ventures,%20LLC |title=Desiree Gruber, Co-Founder, DGNL Ventures LP |website=Bloomberg.com |access-date=2019-08-22}}
{{Cite web |url=https://people.com/parents/kyle-maclachlan-2/ |title=Kyle MacLachlan and Desiree Gruber Welcome Callum Lyon |last= |date=July 28, 2008 |website=People |access-date=2019-08-22}}
{{cite news|last=Cavendish|first=Lucy|title=Kyle reaches new peaks|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/kyle-reaches-new-peaks-7290226.html|work=London Evening Standard|date=June 15, 2003}}
{{Cite interview |last=Gruber |first=Desiree |interviewer=Eddie Roche |title=The Kid Stayed In The Picture: Meet Desiree Gruber |url=https://fashionweekdaily.com/the-kid-stayed-in-the-picture-meet-desiree-gruber/ |access-date=August 22, 2019 |publisher=Daily Front Row |date=February 8, 2013}}
{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hayleycuccinello/2018/06/19/from-hollywood-to-silicon-valley-these-women-are-turning-a-movement-into-action/ |title=From Hollywood To Silicon Valley, These Women Are Turning A Movement Into Action |last=Cuccinello |first=Hayley C. |date=2018-06-19 |work=Forbes |access-date=2019-08-22}}
{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nataliesachmechi/2019/06/18/nina-shaw-and-aileen-lee-on-why-women-need-allies-at-work/ |title=Nina Shaw And Aileen Lee On Why Women Need Allies At Work |last=Sachmechi |first=Natalie |date=June 18, 2019 |website=Forbes |access-date=2019-08-22}}
{{Cite news |url=http://fortune.com/2018/10/01/storytelling-skill-business/ |title=Why Storytelling Became the Hot New Skill In Business |last=Fry |first=Erika |date=October 1, 2018 |work=Fortune |access-date=2019-08-22}}
{{cite news | url=http://fortune.com/2010/09/27/meet-the-2010-most-powerful-women-entrepreneurs/ |title=Meet the 2010 Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs | date=September 27, 2010 | first=Patricia | last=Sellers | work=Fortune | access-date=August 22, 2019 }}
{{Cite news |url=http://fortune.com/2016/03/19/desiree-gruber-let-girls-learn/ |title=Meet the Professional Connector Who Made Michelle Obama's Girl Power Anthem a Reality |last=Zarya |first=Valentina |date=March 19, 2016 |work=Fortune |access-date=2019-08-22}}
{{Cite web |url=http://gawker.com/550988/desiree-gruber |title=Desiree Gruber |website=Gawker |access-date=2019-08-22}}
{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/jun/24/kyle-maclachlan-this-much-know |title=This much I know: Kyle MacLachlan |last=Mulkerrins |first=Jane |date=June 24, 2012 |work=The Guardian}}
{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/dec/10/features.magazine |title=Kyle MacLachlan: I, Claudius |last=Tozer |first=Paul |date=December 10, 2000 |work=The Guardian}}
{{Cite news |last= |date=May 6, 2002 |title=Swoon Over Miami |url=http://people.com/archive/swoon-over-miami-vol-57-no-17/ |volume=57 |work=People |number=17}}
{{Cite news |url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1234437/profile-gruber-part-celeb-circuit-sherepresents-desiree-gruber-thinks-pr-makes-standouts-becomelegends-she-know-she-not-star-clients-ownhollywood |title=Profile: Gruber now a part of the celeb circuit she represents. |last=Atkinson |first=Claire |date=June 3, 2002 |work=PRWeek}}
{{Cite news |url=https://variety.com/1997/scene/news/rogers-cowan-ups-gruber-1116677926/ |title=Rogers & Cowan ups Gruber |last= | work=Variety | date=October 15, 1997}}
{{Cite news |url=https://www.vogue.fr/beauty-tips/on-trend/story/meet-the-woman-who-makes-the-victorias-secret-angels-glow/452 |title=Meet the woman who makes the Victoria's Secret Angels glow |last=Dash |first=Kristie |date=February 1, 2018 |work=Vogue |location=France}}
{{Cite news |url=https://wwd.com/eye/other/desiree-gruber-under-the-radar-on-top-of-her-game-6699603/ |title=Desiree Gruber: Under the Radar, On Top of Her Game |last=Strugatz |first=Rachel |work=Women's Wear Daily |access-date=2019-08-22 |date=February 6, 2013}}
}}
External links
- {{Official website|fullpicture.com|Full Picture official website}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gruber, Desiree}}
Category:American television producers
Category:American venture capitalists
Category:Women venture capitalists