NBC Universal announced a series of promotions in its TV Networks & Digital Distribution unit, headed by the elevation of Jeff Fleeher to senior vice president and CFO.
On the TV Networks Distribution front, both Jennifer Chastain and Wendy Gross have been upped to director, field sales and marketing, while Carly Greenberg and Fred Haug were named manager, affiliate marketing. On the Digital Distribution side, both Emily Powers and Brad Trullinger will take on the role of director, with Trullinger continuing his work with the TV Networks Distribution group.
In his expanded role, Fleeher will continue to manage NBC Universal's financials for the TV Networks Distribution and Digital Distribution sales teams, while coordinating the business operations for each group. His financial oversight includes the distribution of NBC Universal's cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo owned-and-operated stations, Olympic Games content on cable and broadband, as well as video-on-demand, pay-per-view and set top box content across the cable, satellite and telecommunications industry. Fleeher's financial purview also extends to "all-in" content deals with major distributors, including AT&T U-verse, Cablevision, Charter, Comcast, DirecTV, Dish, Time Warner Cable and Verizon FiOS.
Since 2007, Fleeher had served as the vice president and CFO for both the TV Networks Distribution and Digital Distribution division, where he played a key role in securing long-term distribution deals with major affiliates, as well as the distribution of the Olympic Games on cable.
"Jeff has been a tremendous asset to our business," Bridget Baker, president, TV Networks Distribution, NBC Universal in a statement. "He's a natural leader whose understanding of the financial and operational sides of distribution will continue to serve the company well."
Added JB Perrette, president, Digital & Affiliate Distribution and Content Distribution Strategy, NBC Universal:"Jeff's hard work and diligence over the past three years have been instrumental to the growth of our business and the success of NBC Universal as a whole.
In his new post, Fleeher continues to report to both Baker and Perrette.
As director, field sales and marketing, Chastain will continue to manage her current responsibilities in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington, D.C., while adding Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia to her territory. Since joining the field team in November 2007 with NBCU's acquisition of Oxygen, she renewed several direct deals with NCTC members, and signed-up over 35 new Olympic Games affiliates. Chastain, whose affiliate accounts include Time Warner Cable/Carolinas and Cox/Virigina, will continue to report to Heather McCallion, vice president, field sales.
Gross, director, field sales and marketing, will continue to handle distribution and field marketing in California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Hawaii, Alaska and Utah. Key renewals include pacts with New Wave, Fidelity and Wehco Video. In 2010, she worked closely with her clients on several key promotional partnerships with MSNBC, the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, and Bravo's Top Chef Mobile Tour. Gross will continue to report to Bridget Farley, vice president, field sales.
In her new role, Greenberg will work with the affiliate marketing team to develop promotions and on-going marketing support for several NBC Universal brands, including NBC HD, MSNBC and Chiller. Her oversight also encompasses the affiliate Web site, www.nbcunetworks.com, and to support national accounts such as Time Warner Cable and Cox. Previously, Greenberg supported key industry events, including this year's NCTA Cable Show & NBCU Connection, in addition to CES and the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. Greenberg now reports to Erin Breen, vice president, marketing.
For his part, Haug will develop pro-social community relations programs for the company's affiliates in partnership with NBCU's leading cable brands. Responsible for developing curriculum, creating and fulfilling contest kits, and managing in-market events, Haug will also be involved in other affiliate marketing projects. Previously, Haug worked closely with the affiliate marketing group on various nationwide affiliate projects, including Bravo's Top Chef Tour and USA Network's "Character Project." He reports to Melissa Tolchin, vice president, marketing.
Powers, expanding on her previous role as manager, will continue to provide strategic analysis and support to NBC Universal's broadcast affiliate relations team, while also negotiating digital TV and film distribution deals in the U.S. and Canada. In her new role, Powers also will help shape the company's strategy around new initiatives such as 3D. Previously, Powers helped to set up a framework for a new business model with affiliated stations, and secured a VOD film deal with hotel aggregator LodgeNet. Her new responsibilities notwithstanding, Powers will continue to support the TV Networks Distribution team on negotiations. She continues to report to Jennifer Pirot, vice president, digital distribution.
Trullinger, as director, Digital Distribution & TV Networks Distribution, will continue to manage the New England and Caribbean territories in the field, while adding out-of-home distribution to his responsibilities. During his eight-year tenure, his sales efforts have resulted in new launches in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, as well as several new OOH deals, including RMG health clubs and MTN cruise ships. In his new role, Brad will continue to manage his territory in the East Region, reporting to McCallion, and will expand NBC Universal's OOH business by securing distribution for the company's cable networks in outlets such as financial institutions and retail outlets, reporting to Pirot.
