Showtime Restructures Marketing and Creative Services Department

Frank Pintauro and Don Buckley promoted to top executive positions; move comes amid the anticipated move of division head Len Fogge to NBC

Showtime announced Thursday that it's restructuring its marketing and creative services department, promoting Frank Pinauro and Don Buckley to the unit's top executive positions.

The move comes amid speculation that marketing chief Len Fogge is about to re-join former Showtime entertainment president Bob Greenblatt at NBC. Late last month, Showtime PR head Richard Licata left the pay cable channel to re-join former entertainment chief Bob Greenblatt at NBC.

Here's the full Showtime press release:

Showtime®NAMES TWO TO

TOP MARKETING SLOTS

Frank Pintauro and Don Buckley To Key Executive Positions

NEW YORK, NY – (August 4, 2011) – Today, Showtime Networks announced a new structure for its marketing and creative services operation promoting Frank Pintauro and Donald Buckley to Executive Vice President and co-heads of the department. The announcement was made by Matthew C. Blank, Chairman and CEO, Showtime Networks Inc.

−      Frank Pintaurohas been elevated to Executive Vice President, Red Group where he will oversee the network's in-house ad agency. He previously served as Showtime Networks' Senior Vice President, Executive Creative Director, GM Red Group. Pintauro will report to Showtime Networks' Chairman and CEO Matt Blank.

−      Donald Buckleyhas been elevated to Executive Vice President, Program Marketing & Digital Services, overseeing the network's marketing divisions, including consumer and online marketing. In addition, Buckley will oversee media, consumer promotions and digital media. He joined the Company in April serving as Senior Vice President, Digital Services. Buckley will also report to Matt Blank.

−      Sharon Allenhas been promoted to Senior Vice President, Program Marketing and Advertising, reporting to Buckley. She previously served as Vice President, Program Marketing and Advertising. Allen leads the development and oversight of consumer advertising and integrated-marketing plans and spearheads campaigns for the network's award-winning original series.

 

−      George DeBolt, Senior Vice President, Media and Promotions, will also report to Buckley. DeBolt oversees the planning of media for all SHOWTIME advertising, as well as all interstitial scheduling and consumer promotions.

 

−      Jamie Dienstag, Vice President Creative & Marketing Operations and Administration, will now have a dual reporting structure to Pintauro and Buckley. She will continue to work closely with the marketing team guiding strategic and tactical financial management.

At the same time, Blank announced a reorganization for research, scheduling and affiliate marketing.

−      Kim Lemon, Senior Vice President, Research, Program Planning and Scheduling, will now report directly to David Nevins, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc. Lemon is responsible for overseeing all research on behalf of the Company, as well as Program Planning and Scheduling for SHOWTIME, THE MOVIE CHANNEL and FLIX®, along with its multiplex channels and SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®.

−      Laura Palmer, Senior Vice President, Distributor Marketing, will now report to Tom Christie, Executive Vice President, Affiliate Sales, Showtime Networks Inc. In her current role, she oversees all SHOWTIME marketing activity in partnership with the network's affiliates.

"These changes represent the depth and breadth of the marketing and creative services area and help further position the network for continued success in the future," said Blank. "SHOWTIME is equipped with some of the most skilled, award-winning and creative marketing executives in the business who are ready to step into these expanded roles."

Pintauro has had a storied career in the entertainment and advertising industry. He was instrumental in developing the network's award-winning branding campaigns, is responsible for overseeing creative for on-air, editorial production, marketing promotion and graphics, animation, digital content and print. This year, under Pintauro’s leadership, the Red Group was named Best In-House Agency of the year by PromaxBDA. Previously, as a member of the programming department, he was charged with finding properties and programming concepts suitable for development, and was a key player in the development of the Company's family films and the success of "Showtime Original Pictures." Prior to joining SHOWTIME in 1989, he held key positions at NBC Entertainment, ABC News and Hal Riney & Partners.

One of the industry's digital pioneers, Buckley worked for more than 20 years at Warner Bros., founded its interactive marketing department, and was also a co-founder of Warner Bros. Online, now known as Warner Bros. Advanced Digital Services. Until 2008, Buckley served as Warner Bros.' Senior Vice President, Interactive Marketingand was previously its Vice President, Theatrical Marketing. He headed the company's New York offices and served as digital liaison to Time Warner and its investment group, Time Warner Investments. Buckley launched the integrated, interactive marketing company THA.i, in partnership with Terry Hines & Associates. He was a partner at the company, as well as its President, and also served as Executive Vice President of Terry Hines & Associates. Buckley recently joined SHOWTIME and was responsible for the Digital Media Group including the day-to-day operations for Showtime Networks' broadband, mobile and interactive television initiatives.

Len Fogge, former Executive Vice President, Creative, Marketing, Research and Digital Media has left the Company.

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