In a move to better integrate its businesses, according to David Levy, president of sales, distribution and sports for TBS, Turner Broadcasting System has named two new presidents for its overall ad sales business.
Donna Speciale from MediaVest USA joins Turner in the newly created position of president of Turner Entertainment & Animation Ad Sales, while longtime Turner executive Greg D’Alba takes the role of president of News and Turner Digital Ad Sales.
The pair will each lead a team of senior sales executives who will work across Turner’s television, website and digital platforms.
Speciale has been brought in to lead ad sales for Turner’s suite of entertainment, kids and youth networks, including Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and TBS. She will also co-lead Cartoon Network Enterprises, including consumer products, licensing, home video/DVD and retail development, with president and COO of Turner’s Animation, Young Adults & Kids Media (AYAKM) division Stu Snyder.
In another newly created post, Joe Hogan has been tapped as EVP of truTV, Cartoon & Adult Swim Ad Sales and will also report directly to Speciale, overseeing truTV ad sales.
The realignment comes after a Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE) management shakeup last July, which saw John O’Hara become EVP of Cartoon Network Sales, Marketing & CNE, and Paul Condolora the SVP of Digital & CNE for Turner’s Animation, Young Adults and Kids Media after Christina Miller left her role as SVP of CNE.
O’Hara now reports to Joe Hogan, while Speciale steps in to co-manage CNE with Cartoon Network chief Stu Snyder and Paul Condolora.
Straddling both sides of Turner’s business is Walker Jacobs, who’ll be working under D’Alba in the newly created role of EVP of digital ad sales. Jacobs will manage digital and mobile ad sales across Turner’s portfolio of sports, entertainment, kids and youth brands, including the CNN digital and mobile advertising sales division.