Staying cool is easy for a moment, but staying relevant for over 20 years is rare. Complex has done it by sticking to a simple formula: put youth and culture first, and keep experimenting.
In this episode of The Speed of Culture, Matt Britton sits down with Moksha Fitzgibbons, president of Complex, to find out how the media company grew from a scrappy magazine into a global media and commerce brand, why IRL experiences like ComplexCon matter more than ever, and how leaning into technology and creators keeps the brand fresh in a crowded media world.
From surviving the 2008 crash by pivoting to digital, to building deep ties with creators, Moksha shares how Complex keeps its edge by focusing on what young audiences actually care about.
With more than 20 years in the industry, Moksha has helped shape how youth culture is curated, celebrated, and commercialized. He began his career at Complex in 2002, rising from account manager to chief revenue officer over 15 years as the brand evolved from a print magazine into a digital powerhouse.
After serving as group CRO at Valence Media — home to MRC, Dick Clark Productions, The Hollywood Reporter, and Billboard — he took on the role of president at Complex, scaling it into a Gen Z commerce leader through live shopping and cultural drops.
His career reflects a consistent theme: leaning into change, finding new ways to connect with audiences, and building businesses that turn cultural credibility into commercial impact.
Listen to Moksha Fitzgibbons on The Speed of Culture to learn how Complex has remained the definitive voice of youth culture by curating deeply, leveraging technology, and transforming community into lasting connections.
Key Takeaways:
[06:04] Depth Over Reach — Many publishers chase mass audiences and end up spreading thin. Complex chose the opposite and went deep with youth culture, even if it meant a smaller footprint. That focus built credibility and loyalty strong enough to fill ComplexCon with tens of thousands of fans. The lesson here is that when a brand connects deeply, it doesn’t just get viewers, it earns a community.
[09:41] Betting on Youth and Tech — Moksha calls youth and technology the only constants. Every generation of 16-year-olds offers a new audience to grow with, and every new platform is a chance to adapt. Complex’s edge has come from meeting fans where they already are, from early blogs to TikTok and beyond. Missing those shifts, he warns, is how once-dominant brands fade.
[12:12] From URL to IRL — Experiences like ComplexCon, pop-ups, and food festivals turn online fandom into real-world connections. They’re costly and complex to produce, but for fans, they feel like a reward, a chance to live the brand together. In a digital world, Moksha sees physical events as proof that community isn’t just measured in clicks, but in people showing up.
[16:06] Partnerships With Substance — Complex goes beyond selling impressions. Collaborations like a Murakami x MLB capsule in Tokyo or DoorDash’s food festival integration show how the brand combines cultural access, commerce, and creativity. For partners, it means more than visibility, it’s impact with fans and even business outcomes, like onboarding high-profile restaurants to DoorDash’s platform.
[21:45] AI as Risk and Opportunity — AI threatens old publishing models, but Moksha sees it as a tool for speed and scale. From automating video visuals to streamlining design and legal review, Complex uses AI to move faster without losing its point of view. The bet is clear: authority plus creativity will keep the brand top of mind, even in a world where search looks more like a chat.