LONDON: NBCUniversal International Networks (NBCUIN), the international channels’ division of NBCUniversal, announced the appointment of Michael Pennington to the newly created role of Vice President, Digital & Ad Sales, reporting to Marie Holive, MD, Central Networks, NBCUIN. The appointment is effective immediately.
Based in London, Pennington will drive strategic, advertiser-focused innovation for the central Networks digital team as well as leading on advertising sales activity for the group’s portfolio of channel brands – including Universal Channel, Syfy and E! Entertainment Television – and digital properties. He and the central ad sales team will work in close collaboration with the local and pan-regional ad sales teams operating within the company’s EMEA, Latin America and Asia Pacific regional hubs to optimize multi-territory opportunities.
“Pennington is a key appointment to the NBCUniversal International Networks’ leadership team,” commented Holive. “His extensive experience working within the international advertising sales, digital and creative arena will be a tremendous asset as we continue to drive our total audience sales approach, offering 360°, global creative solutions to our clients across on-air, digital and mobile.”
“Joining the International Networks team is a fantastic opportunity to work with a diverse portfolio of leading channel brands and digital properties,” added Pennington. “As users increasing demanding access to our content across multiple touch-points, evolving our digital and mobile strategy is ever more important. I am excited by the endless opportunity to offer innovative, new client solutions.”
Prior to joining NBCUniversal International Networks, Pennington was Director at Tumblr, which he launched commercially in EMEA. He previously held a variety of roles at Yahoo, latterly as Specialist Sales Director running Yahoo’s video, content marketing and mobile offerings for EMEA. Pennington’s work with Yahoo won industry awards from MediaWeek, Festival of Media and the M&M Awards.
Pennington began his sales career at Fairfax and The Economist, before moving on to set up the global sales team at Metro International and then becoming Group Account Director at Viacom.
About NBCUniversal International Networks
NBCUniversal International Networks is one of the world’s premier entertainment portfolios, delivering quality content and compelling brands to over 167 territories across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific. The channel brands in the portfolio include Universal Channel, Syfy, E! Entertainment Television, 13th Street, DIVA, Studio Universal, Telemundo, Bravo, The Style Network and Golf Channel. These unique brands deliver a full range of entertainment experiences to local audiences across the globe; the portfolio also includes Movies 24 in the UK. Further, NBCUniversal News Group, one of the most influential and respected portfolios of on-air and digital news properties in the world, operate CNBC and NBC News internationally.
NBCUniversal International Networks is a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
