13 behind-the-scenes dealmakers leading this year''s digital-media MA bonanza Summary List Placement The media world is in a period of consolidation, from small companies to giants like WarnerMedia and Discovery . The digital-publishing space has been no exception , with BuzzFeed announcing last month that it would acquire Complex Networks and go public via a special-purpose acquisition company . While CEOs, bankers, and advisors are typically the the most high-profile dealmakers in the digital-publishing space, some of these companies also employ corporate development specialists who evaluate potential acquisitions. Insider has identified 13 of the key behind-the-scenes employees working on MA for some of the most active digital publishers. They''re likely to have a busy second half of the year. This list is ordered alphabetically by company. Alex Mather, CEO of The Athletic Yes, Mather is a CEO, but media insiders say he has been the key figure leading the company''s recent corporate development efforts. The Athletic has been the subject of plenty of reporting about potential MA activity, reportedly speaking to Axios and The New York Times about tie-ups — though both conversations reportedly broke down, according to the Information and the Wall Street Journal.