MUMBAI: Discovery Communications Chief Financial Officer Gunnar Wiedenfels has announced a strategic expansion of its global investor relations leadership team. Andrew Slabin will join the company in a newly created role as Executive Vice President, Global Investor Strategy and Jackie Burka has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Investor Relations, effective immediately.
"As Discovery focuses increasingly on growing its direct-to-consumer and digital businesses and investing in new growth areas and revenue streams, the role of our investor relations team is more important than ever," said Wiedenfels. "Andrew's deep understanding of media and technology and strong relationships in the investor community will enhance our position among global investors and help us articulate our ambition to reach viewers on every screen and service around the world."
Slabin brings to Discovery more than 20 years of experience as a buy-side and sell-side analyst and portfolio manager specializing in media, entertainment and Internet investments. In his new role, Slabin will focus on developing Discovery's strategic position and building relationships with the international investor community.
Slabin joins Discovery from Toms Capital, where he was co-portfolio manager of a public equity portfolio and was responsible for investments in the telecom, media and technology sectors. Prior to Toms Capital, Slabin was an analyst and portfolio manager for Man GLG, covering the media, entertainment and Internet industries, and a director of equity research at Merrill Lynch, covering the media industry. Slabin started his career at John Hancock Mutual Funds and received a BS in finance and business administration from the University of Vermont. Slabin will be based at Discovery's office in New York.
Most recently Vice President of Investor Relations, Burka has been promoted to the role of Senior Vice President, Investor Relations reporting to Slabin. Burka will continue to play a key role in driving Discovery's day-to-day engagement and communication with the investor and analyst community as well as quarterly earnings and other financial communications.
Burka joined Discovery in 2012, after more than a decade at Sanford Bernstein and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where she was a sector specialist covering the media, cable, Internet and telecom industries. Prior to that, Burka worked in high yield investment banking at Merrill Lynch and in corporate private equity at Harvard Private Capital. Jackie has a BA in economics from Princeton University and an MBA, with Beta Gamma Sigma honors, from Columbia Business School.
"Jackie has done a fantastic job leading Discovery's investor relations activities and communicating our global growth story to investors. Under the leadership of Andrew and Jackie, our enhanced investor relations team will be optimally positioned for the future," added Wiedenfels.
Discovery Communications was assisted in the search process for Slabin by Howard Fischer Associates, International.
