Latest in Executives

Another veteran HBO senior communications executive is leaving the premium cable network. Mara Mikialian, who currently serves as SVP of Media Relations, has decided to depart HBO after a 36-year tenure. Her last day will be Jan. 13. Mikialian’s departure follows the exits of her long-time colleagues, Nancy Lesser…

NBCUniversal made it official Monday morning, confirming that Jeff Shell will succeed Steve Burke as CEO of the Comcast-owned entertainment operation. Shell will take the reins on January 1, 2020, according to a press release, reporting to Burke. After Burke steps down on August 14, 2020, Shell will report directly to…

The news that NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke is planning to exit when his contract expires in 2020 comes at the same time the top job is also open at WarnerMedia. The two transitions atop major media companies — with a third, at Disney, looming in 2021, when CEO Bob Iger insists he will finally step away — punctuate the…

Rooster Teeth, a unit of WarnerMedia, has promoted Doreen Copeland to VP, Head of Production and Joe Clary and Sean Hinz to co-heads of animation. Copeland will now oversee all physical production at Rooster Teeth. Clary and Hinz will co-lead day to day operations across all of Rooster Teeth's animated productions…

Fred Rogers Productions, the nonprofit children's entertainment producer behind the PBS Kids series Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Odd Squad, and Peg + Cat, has promoted Ellen Doherty to chief creative officer, a newly-created position. In her new role, Doherty will oversee an expanding portfolio of children's content…

Dave Howe, whose 18-year tenure at NBCUniversal included a stint running Syfy and launching shows like Battlestar Galactica, is leaving his post as president of strategy and growth in the NBCU Digital Enterprise Group. In a 2016 reorganization, Howe left his post at Syfy to take on a broader strategy role in the NBCU…

In an appearance Tuesday at the UBS Global TMT Conference in New York, Netflix content chief Ted Sarandos revealed fresh viewership numbers for The Irishman and tackled topics like new competition in streaming. The Martin Scorsese mob epic was watched by 26.4 million subscriber accounts during its first seven days on…

John Stankey, COO of AT&T, stumped for HBO Max during a keynote appearance Tuesday morning at the UBS Global TMT Conference, continuing to emphasize differences between it and Disney+. “Disney+ is a good product,” he said. “They’ve done a nice job. It has a particular appeal. The strongest appeal for Disney+ is to the…

In a keynote session Monday at the UBS Technology, Media and Telecom Conference, ViacomCBS CEO Bob Bakish emphasized the synergy starting to kick in after last week’s close of the company’s long-awaited merger. Offering “a taste” of synergy plans, Bakish reeled off several examples. Among them: The Late Late Show on…

Three days after the long-awaited merger of CBS and Viacom closed, the combined company has decided to sell off the fabled headquarters building of CBS known as “Black Rock.” Bob Bakish, CEO of ViacomCBS, confirmed the company is proceeding with the divestiture during an appearance at the UBS TMT Conference in New…

Blue Bloods executive producer Leonard Goldberg was saluted tonight with an end card tribute at the conclusion of the show. The card came up following the cast’s traditional dinner table scene, with this particular version sporting a “Merry Christmas” theme all around. The happy moment then faded to black and the…

A celebration of the life of Jack Gilardi, an ICM agent for 68 years, will take place this Monday, December 9, at 7:00 PM at Paramount Studios. Industry friends are welcome to attend, but must RSVP to obtain a drive-on to the Paramount lot. The RSVP email is  [email protected]. Gilardi passed away…