ITV

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  • MTV Networks names Hirschhorn as chief digital officer

    MUMBAI: MTV Networks has appointed Jason Hirschhorn as the chief digital officer (CDO). Effective immediately, this new executive position creates a senior global leader of MTV Networks’ digital media businesses and interactive strategy.

    In this new global role, Hirschhorn will be responsible for creating and implementing cross-company strategies for growing MTV Networks’ existing and future brands — including the music, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and Spike channels — across all existing and emerging digital platforms.

    Additionally, he will coordinate the business, product development and technical operations of MTV Networks’ expanding portfolio of digital media businesses while overseeing new acquisitions in the interactive space, including the recently-acquired video destination IFilm. He will also work with corporate development and each brand on all merger, acquisition, new business and integration efforts.

    Hirschhorn will report to MTV Networks chairman and CEO Judy McGrath. He will also work with corporate development and each brand on all digital merger, acquisition, new business and integration efforts.

    MTV Networks has created this position in order to be better structured to leverage and scale efficiencies across all of the company’s digital operations and better positioned to deploy best-in-class technologies, best operational practices and shared expertise seamlessly across the business.

    Hirschhorn joined MTV Networks in March 2000 via the acquisition of his company, Mischief New Media, a web site design and content development firm he founded to serve the entertainment industry.

    BILLY DEXTER IS CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER

    MTV Networks has appointed Billy Dexter as the company’s executive vice president and chief diversity officer (CDO). This new executive position creates a senior leader of the company’s global initiatives to foster the highest levels of diversity throughout every aspect of its businesses.

    Dexter will report to MTV Networks chairman and CEO Judy McGrath and will represent diversity issues on her executive strategy team.

    As CDO, Dexter will partner with MTV Networks’ senior leadership to develop strategies that further diversity throughout the company and to identify new ways of enhancing existing initiatives. He will also work with MTV Networks’ current diversity councils and teams to create more formal structures and processes for implementing key recommendations.

    Dexter will also continue to forge new partnerships with relevant outside organisations and represent the company’s diversity efforts externally.

     

  • MTV Networks names Anuj Poddar as director- strategy

    MUMBAI: MTV Networks India has announced the appointment of Anuj Poddar as MTV Networks Asia director- strategy.
     
     

    In a official statement, MTV Networks says that as a member of the MTV Networks International strategy team, Poddar forms part of a global team that works to grow the MTV Networks business profitably in markets outside the US.

    Poddar will be working closely with the Asia-region strategy team and the Asia executive team. As the head of strategy and business development for South Asia, his focus will be on developing the business across the Indian subcontinent.
     
     

    The statement also adds that he will work with the local executive team across the existing brands (MTV, Nickelodeon, Vh1) and also help drive the growth of the MTV franchise in the region.

    Poddar brings with him over 10 years of consulting experience, first with Arthur Andersen, and the last 2 years with KPMG – Media and Entertainment Sector advisory practice.

    He was also recently involved in publishing ‘Focus 2010: Dreams to reality’, the CII-KPMG report for the Indian entertainment industry.

    MTV Networks executive vice-president Asia Pacific Corporate strategy and business development Charles Chau says, “I am confident that the company will benefit from Anuj’s deep knowledge and broad network in the Indian media market space. MTV Networks is poised at a point of exponential growth in Asia and Anuj will play a major part in channelling that growth effectively in key areas.”

    Anuj Poddar says, “I’m really excited about taking on what promises to be an extremely challenging role in one of the most vibrant and dynamic media companies in the world.”

  • Walt Disney names Kevin Mayer head of Corporate Strategy Group

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney company has appointed Kevin Mayer as executive vice president of the new Corporate Strategy, Business Development and Technology Group. Mayer will lead the group which targets emerging businesses new to Disney’s existing portfolio, manages cross-divisional issues and opportunities, and evaluates new technology and business models.
     
    The group will be responsible for aiding in the evaluation and take the lead in the execution of potential acquisition transactions as well.

    The company has also appointed Marty Yudkovitz as Corporate Strategy, Business Development and Technology Group senior vice president, reporting to Mayer. Yudkovitz will have a lead role in identifying and executing the company’s most promising new business development opportunities.
    “The Corporate Strategy, Business Development and Technology Group will play a pivotal role in detecting and analyzing key trends impacting our markets as well as evaluating high potential new business opportunities that leverage and extend our competitive position. The group will serve as a key resource to the company by helping develop the insights and strategies that are critical to creating shareholder value,” senior executive vice president and chief financial officer of The Walt Disney Company Tom Staggs said in a media statement.

    The newly constituted group will work in close collaboration with the company’s business units, where many planning responsibilities will now reside. “The company is taking a more nimble approach to strategic and business development at the divisional level and providing greater authority, responsibility, and accountability for our business executives,” he added.

    Mayer, who will report to Staggs, rejoins Disney from L.E.K. Consulting LLC, where he was a partner and head of the Global Media and Entertainment practice.

  • Disney Channel’s ‘Heroes 4 Aladdin’ contest names winners

    MUMBAI: Disney has announced the three winners its first viewer contest since the launch Heroes 4 Aladdin.
     
     

    The media release states that the grand prize is an all-expense-paid Arabian Nights family vacation to Egypt for winners Rekha Raikar (18) from Mumbai, Mayank Rathi (10) from Delhi, and Gurvaran Singh (17) from Ludhiana, all three with the highest number of correct entries in the contest.

    600 weekly winners bagged exclusive Disney Channel sling bags and 150 daily winners received T-shirts.

    Additionally, in the true Disney tradition of ‘special entertainment with heart’, every young Disney Channel viewer who registered as a Hero 4 Aladdin was a winner and received special edition Aladdin posters.

     

  • Optimystix names Rajeev Chaurasia as project head

     MUMBAI: After an eight-month sabbatical, Rajeev Chaurasia former MTV India associate director programming has joined Optimystix as project head.

    Chaurasir, who formally joined recently, would oversee the next big musical reality show, which will shortly air on Sony.
     

    Besides the current project, he would also supervise other activities at Optimystix like documentaries and short films. The production house is envisaging a foray in the international market too.

    At MTV, Chaurasia, reported to Natasha Malhotra, who is presently based in Singapore, and later reported to the present MTV senior vice president, creative and content, Cyrus Oshidar.

    His association with Sony dates back to nearly nine years ago, when he had a short stint with the company as manager, business development and strategy and also with SET MAX as head of operations wherein he reported to Kacon Sethi, now chief executive officer at K Sera Sera Productions.
     
     

    Optimystix has recently dabbled in the reality show format with Sony’s Indian Idol, Star Plus’ Khullja Sim Sim, Nick’s Dum Duma Dum, and an international game show format, Double Dare, to name a few.

    Explaining his decision to join a content house after having nine years of association with the broadcasting industry, Chaurasia says, ” I am able to relate to the format shows that have been produced by Optimiystix. Besides, I would like to learn the actual process of content and the creation of shows at the production house.”

    According to him, working in a comparatively smaller organisation like this would give him a chance to be more hands-on “unlike in a channel, which is more operational on-air activities.”