MGM has tapped Roma Khanna as its Television Group and Digital president, the company announced on Tuesday. Khanna had previously served as president of Universal Networks International & Digital Initiatives at NBC Universal.
In her new position, Khanna will be responsible for overseeing MGM's television sales, production, acquisitions, licensing, content creation and digital initiatives worldwide.
In announcing the hire, MGM co-chairmen and chief executive officers Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum said Khanna "will be able to fully realize the vision we have for our television and digital business… We look forward to Roma developing a robust slate of new television and digital content for markets all around the world.”
Here's the release:
MGM APPOINTS ROMA KHANNA PRESIDENT OF TELEVISION GROUP AND DIGITAL
Veteran Executive To Oversee All Television & Digital Initiatives
LOS ANGELES, CA (June 7, 2011) – MGM has appointed Roma Khanna to the post of
President Television Group and Digital, it was announced today by Gary Barber and Roger
Birnbaum, Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officers of MGM. Khanna joins the company
having recently worked with NBC Universal, where she served as President of Universal
Networks International & Digital Initiatives.
In her new post, Khanna will oversee all television sales, production, acquisitions, licensing,
content creation and digital initiatives for MGM worldwide. She will also oversee all existing
franchises and partnerships, as well as guide the creation of new franchise and content
opportunities through the MGM library and IP. She will report to Barber and Birnbaum.
“In Roma we have found an executive that we know will be able to fully realize the vision
we have for our television and digital business. With all that she has accomplished in these
complex landscapes, both domestically and internationally, we know she is the ideal person
for this job and we could not be happier that she has come on board,” said MGM’s Barber and
Birnbaum. “We look forward to Roma developing a robust slate of new television and digital
content for markets all around the world.”
“I am thrilled to be working with Gary and Roger and the MGM team,” said Roma Khanna.
“MGM has a long history of creating and distributing world-class content and I am very
excited to have the opportunity to help grow the global business across both digital and
traditional platforms.”
As NBCU’s President of Universal Networks International and Digital Initiatives, Khanna
oversaw over 70 international television channels, including Syfy Universal, 13th Street
Universal, Diva Universal, Universal Channel, Studio Universal, the Hallmark Channel and
Movies24. Under her leadership, several global productions launched on these channels to
great critical and ratings success, including Rookie Blue, Haven, Fact or Faked and Fairly
Legal. In addition, Khanna oversaw the Digital Initiatives division of NBC Universal
International.
Prior to NBCU, Khanna was SVP, Content and Co-Head of CHUM Television in Canada,
where she co-ran CHUM’s portfolio of free television networks CityTV and A-Channel
and over 20 cable channels. In this role, she guided all of the TV group’s domestic and
international content creation, program licensing, acquisitions, on-air creative, distribution and digital efforts. Khanna previously served as VP, CHUM Interactive where she was
responsible for all new media and cross-platform content initiatives for CHUM Radio and
Television. Before joining CHUM, Khanna served as EVP and co-owner of Snap Media, a
leading independent interactive producer, where she was involved in the production/creation
of cross-media projects for television and film. She began her career at Sony Music Canada
as Manager of Legal and Business Affairs.
