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Turner Broadcasting Gets a President. First Time in More Than a Decade That Position Has Been Filled

Aug 5, 2013  •  Post A Comment

The last time the Turner Broadcasting System Inc. had a president was 2001. That was Steve Heyer, who left the company that year to go to Coca-Cola.

Today, Aug. 5, 2013, Turner announced that David Levy will get the post. It shortens his current title considerably as it increases his responsibilities.

Levy has been Turner’s president of sales, distribution and sports. According to the announcement, in becoming president, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., Levy "adds oversight of Turner’s domestic entertainment and animation & young adults networks and business portfolios to his current leadership of the company’s advertising sales, affiliate sales and sports units. Levy is based in New York and reports to [Chairman and CEO Phil] Kent."

As previously announced, John Martin has already been named to succeed Kent as CEO starting Jan. 1. Martin is currently the CFO of Turner parent Time Warner.

The announcement about Levy adds: "In addition to all of the company’s domestic revenue, Levy now oversees all creative and business activity of the Turner signature networks TBS, TNT, Turner Classic Movies, truTV, Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Adult Swim, as well as their digital brand extensions. This new role has full accountability for a majority of Turner’s domestic business, which is a major driver of the company’s growth and future. With his promotion, Levy adds Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks, and Stuart Snyder, president and chief operating officer of Turner Animation, Young Adults & Kids Media, to his direct-report team of business-unit heads that includes Donna Speciale (Turner Entertainment & Animation Ad Sales), Greg D’Alba (CNN Ad Sales and Turner Digital Ad Sales), Coleman Breland (Turner Network Sales) and Lenny Daniels (Turner Sports)."

In a statement, Kent said: "David is an extraordinary executive with a broad range of experience in just about every aspect of our business. His imagination and audacity echo the spirit of Turner’s founder and namesake, and he inspires great teams to do their best work. Having worked closely with David for over 17 years, I know his capabilities and potential, and had planned to add to his already-considerable portfolio oversight of every aspect of our domestic entertainment and kids businesses, which represent well over half of our operating profit. John Martin and I discussed the future of Turner and this new structure upon the announcement of John’s appointment as the company’s next CEO. With his enthusiastic support, we agreed David will provide outstanding leadership to his longtime colleagues Steve Koonin and Stu Snyder, and will be a significant managerial asset to John, as CEO, and Turner.”

In a statement, Levy said: "I’m looking forward to leading Turner Broadcasting alongside Phil and John Martin, and I appreciate their confidence in me for this important role. I have invested more than 25 years in our company. That cumulative experience affords me a unique understanding of our capabilities and a vision for how I’ll work with Steve Koonin and Stu Snyder and the great entertainment and animation networks teams, and with our colleagues in the revenue and sports units, to continue to evolve and grow Turner.”

David Levy--Turner Broadcasting System.png

David Levy

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