CHICAGO (WLS) — Riding high on the success of two Emmy nominations, three Telly Awards, and recognition from major festivals, Creative Cypher is poised to enter a transformative phase. The innovative content collective, established by the visionary Troy Pryor, has announced the appointment of Cindy Beasley as President. This move underscores the company’s strategic growth as it continues its mission to amplify underrepresented voices in the film and television industry.

“Cindy is set to be a phenomenal leader, and I couldn’t be more grateful for our team,” Pryor expressed. “We’ve been collaborating for quite some time, and it’s essential that every team member receives the acknowledgment they deserve.”

Beasley, a lifelong Chicago creative force, is no stranger to leading projects across all departments at Cypher. She has produced shows for some of the city’s most distinguished talents, including former FOX Chicago News anchor Robin Robinson and Emmy Award-winning journalist Samantha Chatman.

“I’m truly fortunate to be a part of something that meets the needs of both the city and its cultural landscape,” Beasley shared. “Creative Cypher is nurturing the next wave of creatives and entertainment visionaries. With both structure and passion, I’m eager to lead forward. We aim to continuously elevate as Chicago’s premier entertainment ecosystem,” Beasley added.

With over a decade of experience in TV and Media Production, Beasley’s executive leadership, including her work with Morally Cinful Productions, highlights her ability to seamlessly integrate logistics with the arts. As she assumes her new role, she is joined by a refreshed leadership team. Pryor has also announced Kyle Marshall as the new Chief Operations Officer and Starr Gadson as Chief Marketing Officer, both of whom have been long-standing contributors to Creative Cypher.

In its next chapter, Creative Cypher’s flagship initiative, XL Fest, will continue its growth through a key collaboration with TateMen Entertainment, further anchoring its presence in Chicago. The festival has attracted an abundance of media coverage, and hosted an array of entertainment giants including Robert Townsend, Larenz Tate, Vivica Fox, Malcolm D. Lee, and Louis Carr, recently appointed president of BET. Cypher will also continue making great headway with its budding leadership team and extend its footprint across the global festival circuit, aligning with entertainment heavyweights like Robert Townsend and Lil’ Rel Howery (Chicago), XPO (London), and Parkway Social (Chicago).

Pryor remains the Chairman of Creative Cypher and maintains a dynamic presence on several boards including Soho House, SAG-AFTRA Chicago, Definition Theater, and more. After building the Cypher enterprise from the ground up, he is expanding his executive producer catalog, returning to his on-camera roots, and currently co-hosting radio alongside Gadson on “Connect the Starrs” airing on Rejoice 102.3 FM.

“The goal has always been elevation and avoiding founder syndrome,” said Pryor. “I launched Creative Cypher, because I saw a lack of growth from other organizations so it’s important that we practice what we preach. This is a natural progression in the ecosystem.”