NEW YORK, May 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group
has named Brian Offutt to the new position of Senior Vice President of
Creative Operations. The announcement was made by Russell Hicks, Executive
Vice President and Executive Creative Director, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and
Family Group and Sarah Kirshbaum Levy, Chief Operating Officer,
Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group to whom Offutt will report.
"Brian's transition to Creative Resources comes at a time when our
portfolio is growing and producing more and more opportunities for brand
extensions," said Russell Hicks. "His familiarity with Nick, combined with
his business savvy, will ensure that the creative process will operate
smoothly throughout the company."
Offutt will be responsible for all of the operational, financial,
technology and human resources processes for Nick's Creative Resources and
On-Air departments. He will also manage key vendor relationships and
outside partnerships, and will manage the delivery of creative services to
key departments throughout the Kids and Family Group including:
programming; marketing; consumer products; digital; and public affairs.
"Having Brian lead this team will help ensure that we bring streamlined
processes and operations to our creative team" said Levy. "Brian has a
track record of building great partnerships in both the creative and
business communities, which will be invaluable in his new role."
Formerly the Senior Vice President of Entertainment Products for
Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products, Offutt managed the home video/DVD,
book publishing and social expressions businesses for Nickelodeon, Nick
Jr., Noggin, The N, Nick at Nite, TV Land, Comedy Central and Spike TV. He
was instrumental in consumer products growth and orchestrated relationships
with key new partners including: the Hertz Corporation for Nick on the Go,
a portable, pre-loaded, media player for vacationing families; and
Shutterfly for photo books, adventure books, greeting cards, and photo
cards with digitally uploaded personalized content. In addition, he was a
member of the team that initiated Nick's partnership with Sony Music Label
Group announced last summer. Offutt also managed the consumer products
business for Paramount Pictures when this business was integrated into
Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products.
Before Nickelodeon, Offutt served as Chief Operating Officer of Lorne
Michaels' Broadway Video Entertainment, where he oversaw the day-to-day
internal operations of the organization; drove strategic planning and new
business development; and was directly responsible for the company's
post-production business unit, whose clients included CBS Sports, Showtime
and MTV Networks. Offutt helped drive the growth of the company's Broadway
Video Enterprises division, focused on international programming sales and
merchandising its intellectual property like Saturday Night Live.
Offutt also served as President and Chief Operating Officer of
Interdimensions, an online technology and interactive solutions company; as
a Director at Spencer Stuart where he recruited high-level executives for
media companies; and as the Senior Vice President of Golden Books
Entertainment Group and Vice President of its predecessor company, Broadway
Video Entertainment, L.P. Previously, Offutt held business development
roles at The New York Times Company and at IMG, the world's leading sports
and event management agency, where he was key in developing and integrating
IMG Publishing, the company's literary agency. He began his career as an
investment banking analyst at JP Morgan.
Offutt holds a master's degree in business administration and a
bachelor's degree in history from Harvard University. He is a member of the
Board of Directors of ShermansTravel Media, LLC and The Visiting Nurse
Service of New York.
Nickelodeon, now in its 29th year, is the number-one entertainment
brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids
first in everything it does. The company includes television programming
and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer
products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films.
Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 96 million
households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for more
than 13 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters
and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).
SOURCE Nickelodeon
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Related links:
http://www.nick.com
CONTACT:
Joanna Roses, +1-212-846-7326, or Tori
Fernandes, +1-212-846-4942, both for Nickelodeon
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