MUMBAI: ESPN’s executive vice-president for advertising sales, new media and consumer products John Skipper has now been given added responsibilities for ESPN/ABC Sports customer marketing and sales.
ESPN and ABC Sports president George Bodenheimer and ABC Network Operations and Administration president Alex Wallau have announced this decision.
In his new role, Skipper will be handling ESPN ABC Sports customer marketing and sales apart from his current responsibilities wherein he oversees ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine and the company’s ventures in emerging media, including ESPN Broadband, ESPN Enterprises, SportsTicker and ESPN Mobile. Skipper will continue to report to Bodenheimer with respect to his prior responsibilities, and to Bodenheimer and Wallau with respect to ESPN ABC Sports customer marketing and sales.
The move unites Skipper and ESPN ABC Sports Customer Marketing and Sales president Ed Erhardt to manage all sales activity across the spectrum of ESPN and ABC Sports media assets, including television, the Internet, radio, print, wireless, broadband, video games and other businesses. Erhardt will report to Skipper.
It also streamlines the company’s operations under Bodenheimer, who recently assumed added responsibility as co-chair of the Disney Media Networks group.
“Two of the most dynamic sales executives in our industry working more closely together will maximise the value our premier collection of assets brings to advertisers. John’s record of success speaks volumes about his abilities, and Ed and his team have written the book on marketing across multiple platforms. They have a combined 50 years of experience in all forms of traditional and emerging media, and their continued leadership will strengthen our company,” Bodenheimer said.
Both Skipper and Erhardt will continue to be based in New York.