Company Launches & Partnerships
Christie Smith and Julie Darmody are forming a To-Be Named Joint Venture. Darmody was formerly the President, Manager of Talent at Mosaic while Smith was formerly a talent manager at Mosaic.
Video Content Producer, Shandy Media is consolidating their brands, The Fumble, Hollyscoop, ModaMob, and The Savory – to form media company Obsev (“Obsessed with Everything”) to feature video and editorial content centering on pop culture.
Multiplatform media company Zealot Networks has bought Nirvana Digital, an Indian multiplatform network that operates over 200 YouTube channels as well as its own in-house content studio.
News Corp is acquiring video ad tech company Unruly in a $90-million-dollar deal. The company will continue working with its existing clients as it begins collaborating with News Corp business units.
Production company Citizen Skull is forming its own talent division to be named CSP Management with the target to help social media influencers form brand partnerships and cross over into film and TV.
Film
Shannon Petranoff has been named the SVP of Interactive Marketing at Paramount and will oversee Paramount’s domestic online, mobile and social media marketing. She hails from Snapchat where she was a Creative Strategist. Previous to that she worked at Paramount.
Sam Mercer is now the Head at ILM Studios. His previous credits include a producer role on the upcoming film, The BFG.
Philip Button is now the EVP of International Production & Management at STX Entertainment. He was previously the SVP, Agent of Motion Picture Literary at WME.
Linda Cuevas is now the VP of Media & Distribution at Village Roadshow Pictures. She was formerly the Director of Media & Distribution at Village Roadshow Pictures.
Zoe Fairbourn is now the EVP of Promotions & Integrated Marketing at The Weinstein Company. She was formerly the EVP of Strategic Partnerships at Relativity Media.
John Fischer is now the VP at Temple Hill Entertainment. He was previously the VP at Heyday Films.
Alison Haskovec is now the SVP of Development & Production at Silvertongue Films. She was formerly the VP of Development at Evergreen Studios.
Shannon Olivas is now the SVP of Corporate Communications at Skydance Media. She was formerly the VP of Corporate Communications at The Honest Company.
TV
Cesar Conde has been named the Chairman of NBCUniversal International Group and NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises. With this move, Joe Uva shifts from his position as Chairman of Hispanic Enterprises and Content to an adviser on NBC Deportes in Stamford, CT. Patricia Fili-Krusher is now pursuing other opportunities, as of November 1st, 2015. She was formerly the EVP of NBCUniversal.
Gina Mingacci has been hired on as BBC America’s VP in charge of development and current programming to be based in Los Angeles and report to Nena Rodrigue, head of programming and production. She previously served as president of production at New York-based Independent Pictures.
Jana Bennett has been promoted to President and General Manager of History in a move to replace Dirk Hoogstra who has left and will independently produce. Bennett was previously the President of FYI and LMN. Arturo Interian has been upped to SVP of Scripted Programming and Russ McCarroll has been upped to SVP of Development and Programming at the History Channel. Interian was recently the VP of Original Movies for Lifetime. Sean Boyle has been named the VP of Development and Programming. He was formerly the VP of Development at Discovery.
Justin Allen has been named the VP at Middle Man Productions, he was previously an Independent Producer. Erik Olsen is now the EVP at Middle Man Productions. He was previously the Senior Production Executive at LBI Entertainment.
Timothy Kuryak has been named the SVP of Unscripted Development & Production at UP TV. He was previously the SVP of Development at LionTV
William Marks has been named the VP of Business Development at Ovation. He was previously the Head of Accounts at OnCue.
Cindy Davis has been named the EVP of Consumer Experience at Disney/ABC Television Group. She was formerly the EVP of Global Customer Insights & Analytics at Walmart. John Frelinghuysen has been hired on as the EVP of Digital Media, Strategy & Business Development at Disney/ABC. He was previously the SVP and Head of Strategy at AOL.
Augustus Dulgaro has had his role expanded to include COO of ITV Studios Australia, in addition to EVP of Distribution, Asia-Pacific at ITV Studios Global Entertainment. David Mott has been named the CEO at ITV Studios Australia. He was previously the Managing Director at Nine Network in Perth.
Chris Fry has been hired on as an Executive Producer at Kudos. He was previously a Producer on the series, Humans. Jo Strevens is now the Head of Development at Kudos. He was previously a Story Producer on the series The Tunnel: Sabotage.
Glenn Geller has been named the President at CBS Entertainment. He was previously the EVP of Current Programming at CBS Network Television Entertainment Group.
Brian Gewirtz has been upped from Creative Consultant to the SVP of Development at Seven Bucks Productions in New York.
Caley Gray has been upped from Senior Director of Corporate Communications to the VP of Communications at NBCUniversal Content Distribution Group.
Stacy Green has been upped from SVP to EVP of Global Human Resources & Facilities at A+E Networks. Devon Graham Hammonds has been upped from Director of Non-Fiction & Alternative Programming to the VP of Development & Programming at A&E. Lance Still is now the SVP of Strategic Initiatives, Ad Sales at A+E Networks. He was previously the EVP of Promotions & Integrated Marketing at The Weinstein Company.
Scott Grogin is leaving his post as the SVP of Corporate Communications at Fox Networks Group in 2016.
Patrick Kelly has been named the EVP of Business Affairs at TBS & TNT. He was previously the SVP of Business Affairs at Turner Entertainment Networks.
Laura Merle has been named the Senior Director of Corporate Marketing Services at Univision Communications Inc., she formerly worked in the Office of the CEO at Univision. José Morales has been named the VP of Local Marketing Strategy at Univision Communications Inc. He was previously the VP of Content and News Director at Telemundo 47.
Jennifer O’Connell is now the EVP of Alternative Programming at Lionsgate Television. She was formerly the Head of U.S. Television at CORE Media Group. Sandra Stern has been upped from COO to President at Lionsgate Television Group.
Tommy Paul is now the Director of Original Programming at Marvel Television. He was previously the Creative Executive at Shore Z Productions.
Jodie Platt is now the VP of Programming and Development, International Production at Sony Pictures Television. She was formerly the VP of Current Programming at ABC Entertainment.
Pamela Post has been upped from VP to SVP of Original Programming & Series Development at Logo TV.
James Rosenstock is now the EVP of International & Corporate Development at Vice Media. He was previously the EVP of Corporate Development at Discovery Communications.
Sallie Schoneboom is now the SVP of Public Relations at IFC. She was formerly the SVP of Communications at Syfy and Chiller.
Claudia Balzer Scott-Hansen is now the VP of Distribution at 9 Story Media Group. She was formerly the SVP of Group Director, Broadcast, Americas and EMEA at HIT Entertainment.
Management, PR, Agencies
Amanda Hacohen is now the Agent of TV Literary at APA. She previously worked in Comedy Development at ABC.
Mitchell A. Kamin is now the Partner at Covington & Burling. He was previously the Co-Managing Partner, Bird, Marella, Boxer, Wolpert, Nessim, Drooks & Lincenberg.
Sarabeth Schedeen is now a Talent Agent at BRS/Gage. She was formerly a talent agent at Sovereign Talent Group.
Andy Stabile is now an Agent of International TV & Media at ICM Partners. He was previously a Partner and Head of Alternative Department at Kaplan Stahler Agency.
Music, Digital, Publishing, Misc.
Condé Nast President Robert A. Sauerberg Jr. will take over for current CEO Charles H. Townsend come January. Townsend will become chairman of Condé Nast U.S. Over the past decade, he and Sauerberg helped oversee Condé Nast’s foray into premium digital content creation. Over in the branding division, Will Misselbrook will be Head of Branded Entertainment, and Eden Gorcey will serve as Head of Branded Content, Digital Sales, and Strategy.
Dave Dickman has been named the President of Reelio, an influencer marketing platform that specializes in connecting brands with popular digital content creators. He previously served as Global Head of Sales for iAd, Apple’s in-app advertising platform.
Douglas Parker has been named the Executive Creative Director, UX and Visual Design for People and Entertainment Weekly’s digital entertainment group at Time Inc. He previously served as Digital Creative Director for Bravo and Oxygen.
Michael Winship has been re-elected President of the WGA East along with VP Jeremy Pikser and Secretary-Treasurer Bob Schneider. All ran unopposed in an election where roughly 10% of the guild’s 4,000 members voted for the nine open council seats and all but two of which were won by incumbents.
Dick Glover is now the CEO of Mandalay Sports Media. He was previously the CEO of Funny Or Die.
Tyson Parker is now the Head of Artist & Music Industry Relations at Bell Media. He was previously the VP of Communications & Artist Relations at Universal Music Canada.