New Turner Broadcasting System Inc. CEO Phil Kent wasted no time shaking
things up at the company, as he reorganized Turner into three operating units --
entertainment, news and cartoon.
The moves resulted in the exit of Turner Entertainment Networks president
Brad Siegel.
Kent, who elevated Mark Lazarus to president of Turner Entertainment Group,
said Siegel told him shortly after Kent took over Feb. 18 that he would
resign.
Executive vice president Brad Turrell and his trademark white shoes are also
marching out the door, which followed news last month that Turrell's longtime
colleague, Jamie Kellner, was leaving TBS to go back to The WB Television
Network.
Lazarus will oversee TBS Superstation, Turner Network Television, Turner
Classic Movies, Turner South, Turner Sports and Turner Entertainment Sales and
Marketing.
CNN News Group president Jim Walton is adding Cable News Network's
global-ad-sales oversight to his plate, and Kent said he'll soon name a head of
the new cartoon unit, which includes Cartoon Network, now run by Jim
Samples.
Kent also named former TBS International co-president David Levy president of
Turner Entertainment Sales and Marketing and Turner Sports.
Kent, who may bring scripted series back to the Turner networks, said the new
structure is similar to a model he implemented when he ran TBSI.
"This was my reorganization, and anything that results from this will be what
I would call more tweaks and responding to changing environments," Kent said
Tuesday night. "I wanted to get this out of the way early."
