Discovery in rejig mode to align its digital assets

MUMBAI: US non fiction media company Discovery continues with its restructuring exercisehas announced the appointment of Liz Claiborne and former General Electric/NBC Universal executive Andrew Warren to the position of senior executive VP, CFO.

Warren will join Discovery on 26 March. He succeeds Brad Singer who previously announced that he is leaving Discovery at the end of March.

As part of a larger restructuring following the elimination of the COO position as of 31 December 2011, the company also today announced a realignment of corporate functions under several current senior executives, effective immediately.
 
David Leavy has been promoted to the position of chief communications officer and senior executive VP, corporate marketing and affairs, reporting to president, CEO David Zaslav.

In his new role, Leavy adds centralised marketing functions, including Corporate Research and Consumer Insights, Media Planning and Partnerships, Corporate Marketing, and Discovery Creative, the company‘s in-house creative services group, to his existing responsibilities for Global Communications and Corporate Affairs. T

The new organisation will focus on further amplifying Discovery‘s messaging, promotion and research initiatives around the world.

Discovery chief development officer, general counsel Bruce Campbell said business affairs and global production management to his portfolio, with executive VP, global production management and business affairs Lee Bartlett, will be reporting to him.

Campbell retains his existing responsibilities leading global business development, strategic planning and mergers and acquisitions, and overseeing all legal affairs and litigation for the company.

In his expanded role, Campbell will work with Bartlett to continue attracting top producers and on-air talent for Discovery‘s networks and increasing the company‘s presence in the creative television community.

Discovery chief digital officer JB Perrette said he will oversee Discovery‘s Enterprise Operational Services department as leader of the company‘s digital strategy, including Discovery‘s US websites (ex: Discovery.com, TLC.com, and HowStuffWorks.com, etc.), Interactive Technology and Digital Operations and Programming, as well as the company‘s digital distribution efforts with non-traditional affiliates (ex: Apple, Netflix, Amazon, etc.).

Perrette also is responsible for Discovery Commerce, including Licensing, Home Entertainment and Footage and Music Services.

The new structure aligns Discovery‘s digital assets, social media platforms and information technology services in a single organisation to focus on opportunities presented by emerging technologies.

Discovery Networks International (DNI) executive VP, chief content officer Luis Silberwasser said he will have responsibilities over US network Velocity, which also include leading DNI‘s production and development unit and overseeing the international rollout of TLC.

Velocity senior VP Bob Scanlon will now report to Silberwasser. Together, they will leverage the international appeal of the men‘s lifestyle genre to develop content to drive Velocity and other men‘s lifestyle brands around the world.

Zaslav said, "Having worked extensively with Andy at NBC Universal, know firsthand what an effective and strategic leader he is, how knowledgeable and passionate he is about the media business, and what a great addition he will be to our already strong senior management team . With Andy on board, and with the strategic realignments we announced today, I am confident that Discovery is very well positioned to continue delivering on our strategy for sustainable long-term growth in the U.S. and around the world with a lean and efficient structure that best deploys our outstanding talent and resources."

As CFO, Warren will be responsible for leading the global financial functions and strategies of the company and will direct all accounting, treasury, budgeting and tax activities.

In addition to serving on Discovery‘s executive committee and contributing to the overall strategic direction of the company, Warren also will oversee Discovery‘s Media Technology, Production & Operations division, and will represent the company in its three US joint ventures, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, The Hub and 3net.

CSS Studios, Discovery‘s creative post-production sound services company, also will report to Warren.