Cablefax The Magazine - October 2011 - 10

The Leaders
1. Albert Cheng
EVP, Digital, DisneyABC
Television Group
Cheng manages and builds strategies
for Disney/ABC digital media
and oversees product development,
marketing and ops for digital media
content platforms. He's most proud
of the accomplishments of his digital team. " They have
surpassed expectations and released amazing products
that have shaped this industry for the past six years, from
being the fi rst to put current full episodic programming on
the Internet and then on the iPad, to being fi rst with Internet
viewing parties, and fi rst with VOD on mobile carriers, " he
says, noting that to continue such success, the industry
must invest in a culture with diverse perspectives that values
inclusion and transparency. " These elements are critical
in order for our businesses to respond intelligently to the
fast-changing market forces that shape our future. "
2. Steve Apodaca
President, Operations
Charter Communications
Within the past year, Apodaca has
aligned Charter's operating teams
into a single group-a move that has
made the team more focused, disciplined
and better prepared to navigate
the fi ercely competitive ops landscape. Competition, in
fact, is what keeps him motivated. " It's imperative we keep
the customer in mind with every decision we make. To that
end, we may postpone or forego initiatives to simplify the
business, allowing us to maintain focus on the customer
experience, " he says, adding that diverse perspectives at
the decision-making table is key to market reach-and that
any successful executive knows its value.
3. Michelle Kim
Group VP and Chief Counsel,
Programming,
Time Warner Cable
Kim leads all legal, risk analysis and
business affairs support for TWC's video
programming, strategy, product and
content. She also guides dealings in
content acquisition, retrans consent and programming compliance,
supporting TWC on renewal negotiations with NBCU,
MTV, Fox Cable Networks and Disney/ESPN. Most recently, she
oversaw the distribution deals of the L.A. Lakers regional sports
nets across multiple distribution platforms and devices.
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October 2011
4. Doug Gaston
SVP/General Counsel, Comcast Cable
As head of Comcast Cable's law department,
Gaston directs a team of legal
advisers who provide counsel to the
company's senior management. With
Gaston at the team's helm, Comcast
was named Employer of Choice by the
Minority Corporate Counsel Assn. Moreover, with his guidance,
Comcast joined the " Inclusion Initiative, " a program that allocated
$42.6 million toward minority- and women-owned law fi rms. His
greatest achievement, he says, is creating a diverse, top-notch
team: " Our department is comprised of excellent lawyers who
are passionate about the business and bring their unique experiences
and perspectives to solving the issues we face every day. "
5. Herb Scannell
President, BBC Worldwide America
A former executive at Nickelodeon,
MTV and his own company, Next New
Networks, Scannell became president
of BBC Worldwide America at the start
of 2010. Embracing diversity in cable
has been a top priority. At Nickelodeon,
for instance, he initiated diversity scorecards to translate good
intentions into actions. And he continues to work on diversity
at his current gig. " I believe that if you want to change the
complexion of the room, you lead by example. Good intentions
aren't enough, " he says.
6. Mark Garner
SVP, Distribution Business
Development and Marketing,
A&E Networks
Garner leads A&E's digital distribution
strategy, including the adoption of
advanced media and interactive content
platforms, TV Everywhere deals and interactive
TV and commerce applications. What excites him? Change!
" Our industry is a microcosm of the world we live in today. Every
day is guaranteed to have some sort of change, opening up new
possibilities for anyone whose ambition is success. "
7. Laureen Ong
President, Travel Channel
Cable pioneer Ong has been guiding
brand strategy, programming development
and new business opportunities
for Travel Channel since becoming
network president in April 2010. She's
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