Longtime Turner Broadcasting System President of Sales, Distribution & Sports DAVID LEVY yesterday was promoted to President, in what is the "latest in a number of executive and management shuffles at Turner," according to Kristi Swartz of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. Levy's expanded role "puts him over Turner's domestic entertainment and animation and young adults networks and makes him fully accountable for most of the company's domestic business." He will report to Turner Broadcasting System Chair & CEO PHIL KENT "until Jan. 1, 2014, when Time Warner CFO JOHN MARTIN takes the CEO slot." In turn, Turner Entertainment Networks President STEVE KOONIN and Turner Animation, Young Adults & Kids Media President & COO STUART SNYDER will report to Levy (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 8/6). VARIETY's Brian Steinberg wrote the move "brings an important player at the company closer into its fold during a time of transition." Levy will now oversee "all creative and business activity of the unit's signature networks." His promotion would "seem to ensure an executive with a great deal of corporate memory in its operations at a time when more media conglomerates are trying to reduce their reliance on advertising revenue while increasing the cash flows they get from subscriptions as well as sales of the content they produce in different markets." Levy has "intensive experience in negotiating with cable and satellite distributors as well as building Turner's sports presence" (VARIETY.com, 8/5). AD AGE's Jeanine Poggi wrote Levy is a "well-known executive" who had been "considered a favorite to take over" for Kent as CEO (ADAGE.com, 8/5). ADWEEK's Anthony Crupi writes Turner's new exec structure is "designed to increase efficiency, focus and accountability for growth and results." It also aligns Levy, who began his career at Turner in '86, as "a direct report to longtime confidant" Martin (ADWEEK.com, 8/5).
