NEW YORK — This year, National Asssociation for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications will do lunch with its 2017 class of Next Generation Leaders and Luminaries.
NAMIC’s Annual Awards Breakfast, long a staple of the now-defunct INTX trade show, is now the NAMIC Awards Luncheon and will be held Wednesday, Sept. 27, during the 31st Annual NAMIC Conference at the New York Marriott Marquis from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Related: PAR, AIM Surveys Highlight Diversity Week
The Next Generation Leaders Awards, presented in partnership with Multichannel News, recognize four emerging business leaders of color in in the media and entertainment industry for their career successes and commitment to fostering diversity in the workplace. Ten additional emerging executives of color will be honored in NAMIC’s 2017 Luminaries class.
NEXT GENERATION LEADERS
LINDA PAN
Senior VP, New Digital Business AMC Networks
Linda Pan oversees the development and growth of new direct-to-consumer subscription streaming video services, including Sundance Now and horror service Shudder, where she is general manager.
Pan joined AMC Networks in 2013, arriving from Feeln, where she was vice president of business strategy and operations, as well as chief of staff. Prior to her time at Feeln, Pan worked at Netflix and MRC Studios.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Cornell University, her master’s in electrical engineering from Stanford University, and her MBA from Harvard Business School.
“I am enormously proud to receive this honor from NAMIC, whose efforts around diversity are so important,” she said. “At a time when the entertainment industry is evolving, NAMIC’s work is more crucial than ever to ensure opportunities and inclusion for people of all backgrounds.”
EBONNE L. RUFFINS
Vice President, Local Media Development, Comcast
Ebonne L. Ruffins oversees a suite of technologies and programming to advance Comcast’s local reach, relationships, and business advantage. The Local Media Development portfolio includes: public, educational, and governmental (PEG) programming; the EveryBlock platform; Comcast Newsmakers; and the award-winning commemorative programming initiative, Voices of the Civil Rights Movement.
Before joining Comcast’s LMD team in 2016, Ruffins led Comcast’s diversity media communications, spanning national diversity advertising; national surveys; and executive consulting. In that role, she developed Comcast’s first mandatory diversity training module; launched Comcast NBCUniversal’s public diversity report and digital platform; and produced Comcast’s first Diversity Summit.
Prior to joining Comcast in 2011, Ruffins was an English and Spanish producer for CNN’s award-winning platform, CNN Heroes; an on-air reporter for CBS affiliate WCAX in Burlington, Vt.; a reporter/contributor for National Public Radio station WAMU in Washington, D.C., and a CNN Fellow and contributor, also in Washington.
“To be recognized by NAMIC, a leading voice for multi-ethnicity in the communications industry, is a special honor that I share with my Comcast family. I am privileged to work for a company that so proudly validates, celebrates, and actively demonstrates diversity and inclusion.”
ROMINA ROSADO
Senior VP Content and Editor in Chief, E! News
Romina Rosado is an experienced content professional versed in creating content, building an audience and driving monetization across In her current role, she oversees all content, news gathering, audience development and programming for E! News. She also oversees the creation of content-first, revenue-generating programs and works with the NBCUniversal sales organization to develop new ways to monetize and develop branded content.
Earlier in her career, she advised some of the world’s leading brands and government agencies on their digital strategies, including Adidas, General Motors, NATO, the World Bank, the U.S. State Department and UNICEF, and was a consultant to the European Central Bank ahead of the introduction of the Euro.
A truly global thinker, Rosado is trilingual and has worked in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East.
“I am thrilled and humbled to be recognized by NAMIC. Diversity — in all its forms — is no longer just the ‘nice’ thing to do, it is an imperative for organizations that want to succeed, and I am proud to work for Comcast/NBCUniversal, a trailblazer in giving minorities a seat at the table.”
DANIEL EILEMBERG
President, Fusion TV
Daniel Eilemberg is a journalist, producer and new media entrepreneur working in digital media, publishing, film and television. As president of Fusion TV, he oversees programming and operations for the cable network.
Prior to his current role, he served as chief digital officer, overseeing Fusion’s digital news operation.
Fusion TV is a part of the Fusion Media Group (FMG), which also includes such web original media brands as Gizmodo, Deadspin, Jezebel, Jalopnik, Kotaku, Lifehacker, Splinter, The Root, The Onion, The A.V. Club, and Clickhole, as well as FMG’s content development and production unit Story House Entertainment.
Eilemberg is founder and chairman of Animal Politico, Mexico’s leading political news platform and Pajaro Politico, the first news platform to launch exclusively on Twitter in Mexico.
He is the founder and managing director of the ABC Fellows program, and a 2014 visiting Nieman Fellow at Harvard University.
LUMINARIES
CHARLOTTE CASTILLO
Senior Vice President, International Brand Management & Creative, NVCP/VIMN
A 12-year veteran of Viacom, Charlotte Castillo manages the strategic development, planning and creative direction for Viacom International Media Networks’s licensed intellectual property. She leads a team of 35 people around the world. Prior to Viacom, Charlotte was marketing and creative services director at Latina magazine, where she developed trade and consumer marketing initiatives, drove strategic partnerships with major Latino and women’s organizations, and spearheaded advertising/sponsorship- based relationships with companies including Chevrolet, Unilever and L’Oreal.
MIGUEL SANTOS
General Manager, Myx TV
Miguel Santos, of the multicultural Asian-American entertainment network Myx TV, has 14-plus years of experience leading international broadcast media companies. Santos evolved Myx TV from a linear, music-based channel into a multiplatform entertainment network. Santos started his career with MTV Networks Asia, quickly rising up the ranks to be one of the heads of production and on-air promotions.
JANET HAN VISSERING
Senior Vice President of Development and Production, Nat Geo Wild
Janet Han Vissering is responsible for over 150 hours of programming commissioned each year globally. Vissering manages Nat Geo Wild’s development team, working with the world’s leading independent producers, distributors, creative agencies and strategic broadcast partners to create the network’s signature series, specials and events. She also provides daily oversight of production to ensure creative continuity and that all network programming objectives are being met.
NAVIN KAMATH
Vice President of Account Management, Global Distribution, HBO
Navin Kamath is responsible for the strategic account management of several of HBO’s streaming subscriber and transactional partners. He oversees relationships with prominent digital accounts including Apple, Sony, Microsoft, Samsung, Roku and Fandango NOW. Kamath has helped launch both HBO Now and HBO Go on various platforms, devices, affiliate portals and applications. Kamath has worked in various capacities at HBO since 2006, managing HBO On Demand, Cinemax On Demand and affiliate online marketing.
HOLLY TANG
Chief Financial Officer, Bravo and Oxygen Media
Holly Tang is responsible for Bravo and Oxygen Media’s financial oversight including the development of strategic and long-range plans. She identifies growth drivers and new revenue streams for the networks as well as plays a vital role in defining and building strategic initiatives. Based in New York, she reports to Frances Berwick, president, lifestyle metworks, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. Prior to joining Bravo, Tang was director of finance at Comedy Central, overseeing general accounting operations and budgets for programming, marketing, digital media and all ancillary businesses. Previously she held various positions at MTV Networks.
P. SEAN GUPTA
Vice President of Strategy and Operations, BET Networks
At BET Networks, P. Sean Gupta is responsible for programming and network level strategy and growth initiatives that involve researching, analyzing and building strategic recommendations on everything from program launches, growth areas, to delivery of content on multiple platforms. Prior to Viacom, Gupta was a senior director managing business development and business affairs for Time Warner Cable’s advertising division, TWC Media. Before TWC, Sean was an investment banker at Deutsche Bank on Wall Street for six and a half years.
SAMEEL OSURI
Senior VP, Global Content Operations, Discovery Communications
A 14-year Discovery veteran, Sameel Osuri has a wide range of experience across Discovery’s corporate, U.S. Networks and International divisions. He currently is responsible for content-related data, systems and financial analysis worldwide. Prior roles for Discovery include: CFO for the Discovery Channel Group, Domestic Distribution and Discovery Education; VP of finance for the U.S. division’s advertising-sales team; financial planning director for the International division’s global content team; and in corporate finance.
STEPHANIE JACKSON
Vice President, Ad Sales, Western Region, Scripps Networks Interactive
Stephanie Jackson is responsible for overseeing the strategic national sales initiatives for TV and online at Food Network and Cooking Channel. Jackon’s role also requires her to develop strategic marketing partnerships to meet her client’s needs. Prior to her role managing the Food Network’s Los Angeles sales team, Jackson spent 10 years as a senior salesperson responsible for driving sales revenue. Earlier, Jackson worked in radio advertising sales for ABC Radio Networks under the Radio Disney brand.
TONY SONG
Vice President, Ad Sales & Partnerships, AMC Networks
At AMC Networks and its properties AMC, BBC America, IFC, SundanceTV and WE tv, Tony Song oversees all advertiser and marketer spending, helps set revenue projections and guides all negotiations for all WE tv and IFC media assets, including linear, advanced platform/digital, events and branded content. He initiates and implements AMC Networks’s upfront and scatter tactics team, leveraging all networks. He also serves as one of two key strategists directing the day-to-day operations of his department and is crucial in gaining new business and growing current business. Previously, he was director of East Coast national media sales for BET Networks.
TWYLA HUANG-DISIMONE
Vice President, News Content Partnerships, Turner Ignite
Twyla Huang-DiSimone is responsible for harnessing the strength of Turner’s news brands to develop creative and innovative solutions for advertising partners. She is also responsible for developing brand positioning and a powerful voice in the marketplace for each of Turner’s multiplatform news brands: CNN, HLN and Great Big Story. Prior to joining the company in January 2015, Twyla held a number of leadership positions at both established and startup media companies, such as Advance Publications, Style Coalition, Condé Nast Digital and XO Group.
