Turner Broadcasting System Inc. Tuesday named The WB Television Network veteran Jack Wakshlag to head research across its various networks.
In the newly created position of chief research officer, Wakshlag will direct
the company's research and audience development functions for Cable News Network/U.S., CNN
Headline News, CNN International and CNNfn; entertainment networks TBS
Superstation, Turner Network Television, Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies, Turner South,
Boomerang and their international extensions; and Turner Sports.
Wakshlag retains oversight of research for The WB, where he had been serving
as vice president and head of research.
In his new post, Wakshlag will work closely with the TBSI business heads as a
strategist and advisor on key research issues across the company.
He will be based in Atlanta, reporting directly to TBSI executive vice
president and chief financial officer Vicky Miller.
Wakshlag's appointment came just over one week after former Turner research
guru Bob Sieber took early retirement after 23 years with the company.
A Turner spokesman said Wakshlag's position is a new one at the company,
and he is not replacing the departed Sieber, who elected to spend more time with
his family and pursue consulting opportunities.
The Turner spokesman said that in the early days of the company, Sieber may
have held a similar position to Wakshlag's.
During the last eight months of Sieber's tenure, he was senior vice president
of audience and marketing research for CNN News Group.
He had supervised research and audience development for all of the Turner
news and entertainment networks at one time or another over the course of his
career.
Prior to joining The WB in 1995, Wakshlag served as director of research for
CBS New Media and Television Stations from 1988 through 1994.
Before that, he was director of primary research for CBS Television Stations
from 1986 through 1988.
