Jo Ann Ross, the first woman to run a broadcast TV network’s ad-sales efforts and one of the last senior ad-sales executives in the TV industry to hold direct relationships with advertisers when primetime broadcast programs were seen as the primary venue for Madison Avenue’s dollars, is leaving the industry, stepping down from her role as chairman of Paramount Global’s ad sales division at the end of April.
Ross had already stepped back from day to day duties, ceding that role to John Halley, who was named president of ad sales for the company in 2022. But her relationships with key sponsors were seen as valuable, as were the ties many of her senior executives had with media agencies and marketing executives. She has stayed on at Paramount in a key advisory role.
“Jo Ann has steered our advertising business from one milestone to the next. She oversaw...
Ross had already stepped back from day to day duties, ceding that role to John Halley, who was named president of ad sales for the company in 2022. But her relationships with key sponsors were seen as valuable, as were the ties many of her senior executives had with media agencies and marketing executives. She has stayed on at Paramount in a key advisory role.
“Jo Ann has steered our advertising business from one milestone to the next. She oversaw...
- 4/23/2024
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Jo Ann Ross, the TV industry’s first female ad-sales chief, will take a new chairman role at Paramount Global, while John Halley will take on the position of president, overseeing U.S. sales — a major transition at the media company that aims to merge Ross’ close contact with clients with Halley’s expertise in new forms of digital advertising.
Halley will report directly to Paramount Global’s CEO, Bob Bakish, while Ross will “provide her expertise and experience in a strategic advisory role to ensure a smooth transition,” the company said in a statement.
Ross has been a trailblazer in the TV industry, taking over ad sales for the former CBS Corp. after the departure of Joe Abruzzese in 2002, when he exited to join Discovery Communications. Since that time, Ross has formed one of the most durable ad-sales teams in TV, with executives like Chris Simon, John Bogusz, Linda...
Halley will report directly to Paramount Global’s CEO, Bob Bakish, while Ross will “provide her expertise and experience in a strategic advisory role to ensure a smooth transition,” the company said in a statement.
Ross has been a trailblazer in the TV industry, taking over ad sales for the former CBS Corp. after the departure of Joe Abruzzese in 2002, when he exited to join Discovery Communications. Since that time, Ross has formed one of the most durable ad-sales teams in TV, with executives like Chris Simon, John Bogusz, Linda...
- 9/13/2022
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Shari Cohen, one of Madison Avenue’s most powerful and influential media buying executives, will retire at the end of the year, extending the parade of veterans leaving the business at a time of extreme flux.
Cohen, executive director of media investments at Wpp’s powerful GroupM, helped weave Sears into ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” one of TV’s most memorable product placements; worked American Express into a lead sponsorship for Disney’s recently launched ESPN + streaming service; and was the executive who struck a deal with NBCUniversal in 2007 that created a new yardstick- known as “C3” or “commercial ratings – for measuring the effectiveness of TV advertising. Now she has decided to tackle other pursuits, such as writing books for children.
“There comes a point in your career when you sort of know it’s time, and you have to trust and be inspired by new beginnings,...
Cohen, executive director of media investments at Wpp’s powerful GroupM, helped weave Sears into ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” one of TV’s most memorable product placements; worked American Express into a lead sponsorship for Disney’s recently launched ESPN + streaming service; and was the executive who struck a deal with NBCUniversal in 2007 that created a new yardstick- known as “C3” or “commercial ratings – for measuring the effectiveness of TV advertising. Now she has decided to tackle other pursuits, such as writing books for children.
“There comes a point in your career when you sort of know it’s time, and you have to trust and be inspired by new beginnings,...
- 12/21/2018
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Raze, the digital media venture co-founded by the actress Sofia Vergara that will furnish news, lifestyle, and beauty content for Hispanic viewers in the U.S., has announced several key hires and the appointment of Joe Abruzzese to its board. Abruzzese is the former president of ad sales for Discovery Communications.
The fleet of new hires, per Variety, includes former Viceland marketing executive Rafael Sandor, who has been named Raze’s chief creative officer, as well as journalist Daniel Hernandez -- also from Vice -- who will serve as head of Raze News. Additionally, producers D. Matt Geller and David Stern have been named co-heads of scripted programming for Raze.
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The fleet of new hires, per Variety, includes former Viceland marketing executive Rafael Sandor, who has been named Raze’s chief creative officer, as well as journalist Daniel Hernandez -- also from Vice -- who will serve as head of Raze News. Additionally, producers D. Matt Geller and David Stern have been named co-heads of scripted programming for Raze.
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- 3/23/2017
- by Geoff Weiss
- Tubefilter.com
It’s the end of an era in TV advertising as Discovery Communications’ Joe Abruzzese — one of the industry’s best known, and admired, execs — announced that he will retire at year end. He spent the last 14 years of his 46-year career at the cable company after 11 years leading CBS’ ad sales, and 10 years at NBC. Discovery will promote Ben Price, a 27-year veteran, to president of U.S. ad sales when Abruzzese leaves. He’ll report to Chief Commercial Officer Paul…...
- 7/25/2016
- Deadline TV
Fox TV Stations CEO Jack Abernethy, NBCUniversal executive vice president Lauren Zalaznick and Debmar Mercury co-president Ira Bernstein are among new members named to the National Association of Television Program Executives board of directors, the association announced on Monday. The newly elected members of the Natpe board also include Discovery Communications, Discovery Networks president, advertising sales Joe Abruzzese; Tandem Communications president and partner Rola Bauer; Turner Broadcasting’s senior vice president, head of program acquisitions and content licensing Deborah Bradley; Netflix vice president, content acquisitions Sean Carey; Univision Communications’ president, programming & content Alberto Ciurana; Fremantle Media Svp, program distribution, USA.
- 9/16/2013
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
Newly elected members of Natpe’s 2014 Board announced today are Jack Abernethy, CEO, Fox TV Stations, New York; Joe Abruzzese, President, Advertising Sales, Discovery Communications, Discovery Networks, New York; Rola Bauer, President and Partner, Tandem Communications (Munich); Ira Bernstein, Co-President, Debmar Mercury, New York; Deborah Bradley, Senior Vice President, Head of Program Acquisitions and Content Licensing, Turner Broadcasting, Atlanta; Sean Carey, VP Content Acquisitions, Netflix, Los Angeles; Alberto Ciurana, President, Programming & Content, Univision Communications, Miami; Lisa Honig, Svp, Program Distribution, USA & Canada, Fremantle Media, New York; Craig Hunegs, President, Business and Strategy, Warner Bros. Television Group, Los Angeles; Andy Kaplan, President, Worldwide Networks, Sony Pictures Television, Los Angeles; Michael Kassan, President/CEO, MediaLink, New York and Los Angeles, and Lauren Zalaznick, Executive Vice President, NBC Universal, New York. In addition, current Digital Advisory Board members Ross Levinsohn, CEO, Guggenheim Digital Media, Los Angeles; Erin McPherson, VP & Head of Video Programming and Originals,...
- 9/16/2013
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Sharks used to be the big stars for Discovery Communications. But the company’s upfront presentation in New York included a varied lineup of celebs with Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Mariel Hemingway, Morgan Freeman, William Hurt, Latoya Jackson, Nascar’s Jeff Gordon and Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson — as well as a performance by singer Colbie Callat. Execs did most of the storytelling in the company’s annual sales pitch to ad buyers. Advertising Sales President Joe Abruzzese not surprisingly told buyers that Discovery’s networks offer “the best environment for your brands.” In addition to the popularity of the programming, he says the channels have four fewer commercial minutes per hour than their competitors. What’s more, he noted that because Discovery owns all of its own content, it’s easier to integrate brands into the shows, blurring the line between programming and promotion. Daredevil Nik Wallenda opened the...
- 4/4/2013
- by DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor
- Deadline TV
Former AOL ad sales chief Kathleen Kayse has been named executive VP of advertising sales for OWN: the Oprah Winfrey Network, effective immediately.
Kayse most recently served as executive VP of the digital media sales division of Discovery Communications, joining the company in February 2008 after a four-year stint at AOL.
In her new role, Kayse will oversee ad sales for OWN, which is expected to launch in 2010. She also will manage sales for the startup's digital assets, including Oprah.com. She reports to Own CEO Christina Norman and Discovery ad sales president Joe Abruzzese.
Prior to jumping to Discovery, Kayse put in 24 years at Time Warner, most recently as executive vp, marketing solutions for AOL's Platform-a, where she generated more than $1 billion in advertising revenue.
Previously, Kayse had served as the publisher of People magazine, managing all sales and marketing operations for the weekly.
Kayse most recently served as executive VP of the digital media sales division of Discovery Communications, joining the company in February 2008 after a four-year stint at AOL.
In her new role, Kayse will oversee ad sales for OWN, which is expected to launch in 2010. She also will manage sales for the startup's digital assets, including Oprah.com. She reports to Own CEO Christina Norman and Discovery ad sales president Joe Abruzzese.
Prior to jumping to Discovery, Kayse put in 24 years at Time Warner, most recently as executive vp, marketing solutions for AOL's Platform-a, where she generated more than $1 billion in advertising revenue.
Previously, Kayse had served as the publisher of People magazine, managing all sales and marketing operations for the weekly.
- 10/12/2009
- by By Anthony Crupi, Mediaweek
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Discovery Communications has named former AOL executive Kathleen Kayse as executive vp, digital media sales, the company said Thursday.
In this role, she will lead the development of ad sales strategies for Discovery's Web properties, including recent acquisitions Howstuffworks.com and Treehugger.com, and report to Discovery ad sales president Joe Abruzzese.
Kayse, a 24-year veteran of Time Warner, was previously executive vp, marketing solutions for AOL's Platform A group. Before that, she was publisher of People magazine and had also held similar positions at Money and Fortune Small Business magazines.
In this role, she will lead the development of ad sales strategies for Discovery's Web properties, including recent acquisitions Howstuffworks.com and Treehugger.com, and report to Discovery ad sales president Joe Abruzzese.
Kayse, a 24-year veteran of Time Warner, was previously executive vp, marketing solutions for AOL's Platform A group. Before that, she was publisher of People magazine and had also held similar positions at Money and Fortune Small Business magazines.
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