Nancy Utley

Nancy Utley (née Derk) is an American film producer and studio executive. She held the positions Executive Vice President of Marketing at 20th Century Fox and co-president and co-chairman of Searchlight Pictures. Under Utley’s leadership, Searchlight Pictures received 122 Golden Globe nominations, 159 Oscar nominations, Since 2021, Utley has run Lake Ellyn Entertainment, a production company she founded.

Utley is also a former member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Board of Governors.

Utley is a philanthropist, having worked with various volunteering and charity organizations. She is on the Board of Directors of Lupus L.A., a non-profit health organization that supports medical research, operates fundraising, and provides patient support and advocacy.

Early life and education Utley grew up outside of Chicago in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

After graduating high school, Utley attended the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University to pursue a career in reporting, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism in 1977 and a Master’s Degree in Journalism in 1978. Utley was part of the Xi chapter of the Chi Omega sorority at Northwestern.

Utley originally desired to pursue journalism as a career, but cites an undergraduate advertising class as sparking a curiosity in the business of marketing. She then concentrated in advertising at graduate school. When The Walt Disney Company acquired 21st Century Fox in 2019, Fox Searchlight became an asset of Disney and was renamed Searchlight Pictures in 2020. As of 2018, Searchlight had grossed over $5 billion in worldwide box office sales. She continued serving the Academy board in the Marketing and Public Relations Branch from 2013 through 2022. She was elected to this position in 2016. Rez Ball was released in 2024.

Mentorship and philanthropy As chair of the Academy’s Education and Outreach Committee, Utley oversaw the launch of the Academy Gold Talent Development and Inclusion Initiative. The Gold Initiative is a summer internship and mentorship program that works to serve film industry career hopefuls from underrepresented communities.

In 2018, Utley was presented the David J. Wallace Founder’s Award by Lupus L.A. at the organization's annual Orange Ball. She has three daughters, Hannah, Emma, and Mia, as well as four stepchildren, Jesse Jacobs and Abra Goldemberg whom she shared with her late husband, John Jacobs. as well as two stepchildren, John Fitzpatrick and Katy Fitzpatrick, with her current husband.

Utley is the sister of Tim Derk, the creator and original performer of the San Antonio Spurs Coyote Mascot. Derk is a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the NBA Hall of Fame and author of Hi Mom, Send Sheep: My Life as the Coyote and After Utley is also the sister of MetroNet executive James Derk

Utley herself was diagnosed with Lupus in 1991, inspiring and guiding her work with Lupus L.A.

Achievement accolades Chi Omega Malinda Jolley Morton Woman of Achievement 2012 Northwestern Medill Hall of Achievement 2015 Inductee

Philanthropic awards Lupus L.A. Daniel J. Wallace Founder’s Award

Films that received the “Best Picture” Academy Award under Utley’s purview Slumdog Millionaire 12 Years a Slave Birdman The Shape of Water Nomadland