Turner Broadcasting has restructured its ad sales organization resulting in former media buyer Donna Speciale being named president for TV and digital sales and long-time CNN sales chief Greg D’Alba leaving the company.
The restructure occurs as the industry’s upfront sales season moves into high gear. CNN has scheduled an upfront sales event for April 10 in New York. Turner holds its upfront presentation during broadcast week in May.
“Combining our television and digital ad sales functions and marketing functions allows us to provide more cohesive support to our advertising partners and further build collaborative relationships with them that will ultimately help meet their business goals and objectives,” said David Levy, president of Turner Broadcasting in a memo explaining the changes to the company. “In turn, this new strategic direction will help us further maximize our revenue potential across our entire portfolio.”
Speciale, who for the last few years has been head of sales for Turner’s entertainment and kids networks, was named president of Turner Broadcasting ad sales. She succeeds Levy, who had also been president of distribution and sports before being named president of all of Turner Broadcasting last year. He reports to new Turner CEO John Martin, while Speciale will continue to report to Levy.
Levy noted that D’Alba will be leaving Turner after more than 27 years. Most recently he’d been in charge of sales for CNN and for Turner digital ad sales.
Under the new structure, Katrina Cukaj, executive vice president of CNN ad sales and Andrea Ching, senior vice president, news and Turner digital ad sales, will report to Speciale.
Other digital sales execs will also become part of the unified organization. Joe Dugan, senior vice president, CNN digital sales will report to Cukaj. Dennis Chang, vice president/digital sales manager, entertainment & young adults, and Ed Wise, senior vice president of digital ad sales entertainment and young adults/ branded entertainment, will have a dual report to Frank Sgrizzi, executive vice president of Turner entertainment ad sales, and Joe Hogan, executive vice president of Turner young adults ad sales.
On the sports side, Rich Calacci, senior vice president, sports digital/Bleacher Report ad sales and Seth Ladetsky, senior vice president, sports digital ad sales, will now report directly to Jon Diament, executive vice president of Turner sports ad sales.
