Brenda Freeman, the former Turner Broadcasting and DreamWorks Animation marketing executive, has been hired as chief marketing officer for National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo WILD, filling the post that was vacated when Courteney Monroe was made CEO of National Geographic Channels last April. Freeman's hire follows the appointment in September of Tim Pastore as president of original programming & production as Monroe moves to bolster her senior team.
Freeman joins from her most recent post as global head of television marketing for DreamWorks Animation, where she spearheaded the vision and global marketing efforts for the rapidly expanding DreamWorks TV business, managing brand marketing and advertising plans for more than 1,000 hours of original content around the world, NGC said in a release.
As CMO, Freeman will oversee the channels' marketing efforts, including brand development and strategy, consumer on-air and off-air campaigns, trade marketing, digital marketing, digital content, social media, media strategy, partnership marketing and all creative for NGC and Nat Geo WILD. She also will oversee the network’s consumer communications efforts, including consumer publicity campaigns, talent relations, special events, public affairs, education outreach and digital publicity for both networks.
“Brenda’s energy, insight and vast experience in entertainment marketing make her a great fit as we continue to elevate the National Geographic Channels within the industry and in the minds of consumers,” Monroe said in the release. “With her talents, we have another great addition to our senior team poised to take us to the next level.”
“I am thrilled to join Courteney and her team at such an exciting time in the evolution of the National Geographic Channels,” Freeman, who was a Multichannel NewsWonder Woman in 2014, said in the release. “Both channels have such exciting projects in the works, I cannot wait to get started. And it is a real treat to be able to return to my hometown.”
Freeman earlier spent six years at Turner Broadcasting, most recently as chief marketing officer for Turner Animation, Young Adults and Kids Media. At Turner, Freeman was responsible for all areas of marketing and network operations, including digital, games, on-air, advertising, consumer and trade communications, special events and affiliate support for the global multiplatform Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang brands.
