NEW YORK, June 7, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ION Media Networks announced today that senior television sales executives Kendra Cleary, Corry Hart and Laura Diefenbach have been named Vice Presidents of National Sales. Cleary's hire marks the opening of ION's office in the Detroit market. Hart will direct and manage ION's Chicago-based national advertising sales office and oversee the Midwest territory. Additionally, ION's Laura Diefenbach has been promoted to Vice President of Network Sales East Coast in its New York office. The executives will report to Lisa Fischer, Senior Vice President of Network Sales, in New York.
The additions of the vice presidents to their leadership roles mark important milestones in ION's growth strategy. Currently, ION Television ranks #8 among A25-54, while prime viewership has increased 26% season-to-date and 19% versus first quarter of 2010 for total viewers.
"Expanding our team with Kendra and Corry, in the American heartland, is our way of recognizing this ever-important region in the sales marketplace," says Fischer. "Their positions will afford us the opportunity to cultivate more one-on-one relationships that are vital when working with major advertisers and agencies from the region. Their great talents combined with Laura's enhanced role in our New York office are essential in telling ION's success story to our expanding advertising client base."
Cleary joins ION with nearly 20 years experience in the industry, specifically in the automotive, QSR, retail, travel and insurance sales categories. Recently, Cleary worked as a Regional Sales Director for Focus Media & Marketing after spending 19 years with Turner Broadcasting in Detroit and Chicago. Cleary holds a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University.
Hart comes to ION Media Networks with 18 years of experience in sales management and branded content. She recently served as the Director of Brand Entertainment and Partnerships at IFC and Sundance Channel where she was responsible for generating sponsorship sales revenues and creating branded entertainment platforms for partners. Previously, Hart managed national sales efforts for Fine Living and Food Network. Hart is a graduate of University of Illinois.
Laura Diefenbach's promotion to Vice President of Network Sales East Coast comes after her excellent results in national advertising revenue for ION. Diefenbach joined ION in 2009 as an Account Executive. Prior to ION, Diefenbach worked in the ad sales groups at Univision, GSN and USA Networks.
Source: Nielsen Media Research. L+SD Data; A25-54 STD ranking M-Su 7P-1A: (9/27/10 – 5/15/11). ION vs. all ad supported cable networks (excluding kids, news and sports nets).
Prime viewership M-Su 7P-12A: Total Viewers (P2+) STD (9/27/10-3/27/11 vs. 9/28/09-3/28/10) and 1Q (12/27/10-3/27/11 vs. 9/28/09-3/28/10).
ABOUT ION MEDIA NETWORKS, INC.
ION Media Networks, Inc. is a leading U.S. media and technology company, using its unique content and broadcast capabilities to deliver innovative in-home and out-of home television services. On the content side, ION Media owns and operates ION Television, serving over 99 million homes with high quality media and information 24/7; qubo, the award winning 24/7 kids channel and ION Life, a channel dedicated to active living and personal growth. On the technology side, ION operates a footprint of 60 full power DTV television stations, providing the backbone for its wireless consumer innovation. ION's pioneering R&D efforts have lead to a series of ground-breaking mobile and next-generation digital television DTV products using over-the-air television spectrum technology. For more information, visit www.ionmedia.com
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