Seasoned Executive Brings Cross-Platform Media Experience to AOL Advertising
NEW YORK – AOL announced that Janet Balis has been named Head of Sales Strategy, Marketing and Partnerships for AOL Advertising. In this role, Janet will be primarily responsible for the go-to-market strategy for AOL Advertising’s products and services, driving marketing and sales strategy across the full sales offering including video, social, premium display and mobile formats as well as playing a critical front-line role with top clients and agencies. She will also be responsible for contributing to advertising partnerships that bring forward new, innovative opportunities for brand marketers, with a focus on integrated, cross-platform solutions. She will report to Ned Brody, Chief Revenue Officer. Her first day will be October 24.
“We are thrilled to welcome Janet back to AOL to become a part of the advertising leadership team as we continue to partner with our clients and agencies to create cutting-edge strategic marketing solutions,” said Brody, Chief Revenue Officer, AOL. “Known for driving creative large scale ideas, Janet is an award-winning professional in the industry and has been a strategic partner to many world-class brands. Janet has years of experience not only in marketing and sales strategy, but also sales management and creative development.”
He added, “Her expertise is a strong complement to our advertising leadership team and will undoubtedly be an asset for our business.”
“I cannot imagine a better moment to be rejoining AOL,” said Balis. “AOL’s commitment to best-in-class, original content and highly innovative technology offers tremendous opportunity in the advertising marketplace. I am excited to work with the team to capitalize on the full potential of AOL’s offering on behalf of leading brand marketers, developing high impact ideas and solutions.”
Balis was most recently Executive Vice President, Media Sales & Marketing at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO), where she led a team of over 100 in sales, marketing and ad operations for all MSLO print, broadcast, and digital media assets. She was responsible for ad sales revenue across television, four magazines, radio, digital and mobile experiences and also led key consumer marketing initiatives on behalf of the company. Prior to that role, she was President of Digital Media Strategies – a boutique advisory firm, guiding premier media companies and brands, such as Turner Broadcasting, Discovery Communications and Warner Bros. Television, on digital strategy.
From 2004 to 2007, Balis was Senior Vice President, Sales Development for AOL, LLC, where she led the national team responsible for developing idea-driven marketing solutions for advertising clients. She spent over five years at Time Inc., where she led digital sales and marketing across the division’s web sites. Earlier in her career, she spent time at both Goldman Sachs and A.T. Kearney.
Balis holds a BA from Columbia College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She was named a 2010 Women to Watch by Advertising Age and a 2006 Crains Top 40 Under 40.
About AOL
Having helped millions of Americans to get online, AOL Inc. (NYSE: AOL) is on a mission to inform, entertain and connect the world. The home of a growing collection of premium brands, AOL creates original content that engages audiences on a local and global scale. We help marketers connect with these audiences through effective and engaging digital advertising solutions.
