TBS and TNT Marketing Expands Leadership, Shifts to Content-centric Model

The TBS and TNT marketing team is undergoing a major strategic evolution under Kevin Reilly, president of TBS and TNT, chief content officer, Turner Entertainment. The networks' marketing efforts will shift to a new content model consisting of a constant flow of creative across all platforms with a focus on maintaining relationships between consumers and the brands, as well as with advertising partners. This change will also add new competencies in targeting consumer engagement and social relevance, on top of traditional marketing functions.

As part of this evolution, Jeff Gregor is being elevated to chief catalyst officer for TBS and TNT, while Michael Engleman is set to join the company in early 2016 to serve in the new position of executive vice president of entertainment marketing and brand innovation for the networks. Gregor, who is based in Atlanta, reports to Reilly, while Engleman will be based in Los Angeles, reporting to Gregor and working closely with Reilly and the new content team in Los Angeles.

We are reinventing two market-leading brands, TBS and TNT, which calls for a forward-reaching, re-imagining of our marketing organization, said Reilly. I have worked closely with Jeff since I joined the company, and he is one of the rare leaders who can draw on his deep brand marketing experience while reaching for new ideas and emergent methodologies. Michael will be the perfect complement to Jeff in our leadership suite - a stellar media professional with a successful track record in finding new, culturally relevant paths to the consumer.

Jeff Gregor, Chief Catalyst Officer, TBS and TNT

Jeff Gregor, who most recently served as executive vice president and chief marketing officer of TBS and TNT, will expand his marketing purview in a newly created role as chief catalyst officer. In this role he will continue his duties as chief marketing officer while accelerating organizational change, supporting sales to monetize brand content and innovation, driving key strategic initiatives and operational efficiencies, and providing support to executives across all functional areas that interact with the marketing organization.

Gregor and his team have been lauded for their innovative and creative initiatives, such as the award-winning launch campaign and Emmy-winning companion app for TBS's late-night series CONAN. The team broke new ground with the launch of live streaming apps for the networks, making TBS and TNT the first entertainment networks in the industry to offer a digitally streamed simulcast of their on-air lineups.

For TNT, Gregor has led the marketing initiatives behind some of television's most popular dramas, including Rizzoli & Isles, Major Crimes, and The Last Ship, which ranked among basic cable Top 10 scripted series this past summer; the epic sci-fi adventure Falling Skies, from executive producer Steven Spielberg; and the top-rated fantasy adventure The Librarians. For TBS, Gregor has overseen the marketing for the award-winning launch and Emmy-winning companion app for TBS's late-night series CONAN. He has also led the campaigns for such original TBS comedies as American Dad! and Cougar Town, as well as the network's chart-topping telecasts of The Big Bang Theory.

Gregor previously oversaw marketing for Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and served as the network's general manager. Under his leadership, TCM launched the Watch TCM digital platform, earned its second Peabody Award and celebrated its 20th year as a leading authority in classic film.

Prior to being named chief marketing officer, Gregor served as senior vice president of sports marketing and programming for TNT and TBS, developing campaigns for the NBA, Major League Baseball, and NASCAR. He joined TNT and TBS in 2000 after serving as director of sports asset management for The Coca-Cola Co., where he led marketing management and system utilization of key sponsorships with NASCAR, the NFL, the NBA, the NHL and Major League Baseball. He also worked with Wunderman Cato Johnson, a Young & Rubicam marketing services agency, overseeing the Miller Brewing account group, and he held marketing sales positions with the Cleveland Indians and the Philadelphia Phillies. A native of East Chicago, IN, Gregor holds a bachelor of arts in economics from Albion College in Michigan.

Michael Engleman, Executive Vice President of Entertainment Marketing and Brand Innovation

As executive vice president of entertainment marketing and brand innovation, Michael Engleman will oversee all branding and marketing initiatives in support of TBS and TNT, as well as the creation of a new content marketing group designed to maximize opportunities presented by a fast-changing media landscape. Using an always-on approach, he will be responsible for developing innovative marketing solutions for both networks, growing consumer relationships through audience development, digital and social content creation, real-time marketing and cross-plat form consumer experiences. He will also work hand in hand with the networks' development, programming, ad sales, research and publicity teams to define, articulate, and execute key entertainment business strategies and initiatives.

Engleman comes to TBS and TNT after serving as executive vice president, marketing, digital and global brand strategy for Syfy and Chiller. In that role, he aligned all marketing and digital activities for the two properties, including brand, consumer, web, social and sales marketing initiatives aimed at optimizing advertising revenue and partnerships. Engleman has also developed landmark campaigns for a number of hit Syfy series including the transmedia launch of Defiance, the acclaimed current series 12 Monkeys and Face Off, and the social media sensation Sharknado 1 to 3.

Engleman joined Syfy in March 2008 as vice president and creative director

LINK:	http://sportsvideo.org/main/blog/2015/11/24/tbs-and-tnt-marketing-expa...
	See more stories from svg

North America Stories