Cablefax The Magazine - October 2013 - 28

The InfluenTIals
her staff and mentees. When deciding
on new hires, Griffin keeps an eye out
for individuals " who will complement
the existing team by bringing an added
dimension. "
Troy Griffin
VP, Customer
service strategy
and Operations,
Comcast Cable
One of Griffin's first
actions upon landing
his promotion last year
was a drastic change overhaul on how
Comcast's customer care did business.
Shrugging off what he viewed as
" substandard " employee performance,
he introduced a behavioral improvement
system that sought to repair weak areas.
The result? High employee achievement
and greater customer retention.
He believes cable should change its own
behavior with leadership that reflects
its greater employee landscape. " When
diversity is fully embraced, employees
feel valued, which leads to customers
feeling valued, " Griffin says.
David Gross
VP, Development,
Oxygen Media
Oxygen has
aggressively
expanded its original
programming over
the past three years,
and Gross sits at the nexus of such
successes as " My Shopping Addiction, "
" My Big Fat Revenge " and " Find Me
My Man. " He's also playing a big role
in Oxygen's plan to expand original
programming from two to three nights
a week, seeking out projects that
reflect the network's diverse audience
both in front of and behind the camera.
" I'm extremely proud about Oxygen's
commitment to working with diverse
auspices and independent producers, "
he says. " We will continue to search for
distinct voices that otherwise might not
be heard. "
CableFAX: The Magazine
Maureen Guthman
sVP, Program
strategy and
acquisitions,
TV One
Guthman knows
programming, having
negotiated over 250
programming deals in her 15 years in
the television industry. She also knows
a hit, expanding " R&B Divas " with " R&B
Divas LA. " With TV doubling its original
programming over the past 12 months,
the self-described TV junkie is searching
for more, with a mission to provide
women and African Americans an opportunity
to see themselves as multidimensional
heroes in their stories. Where
is the cable industry falling short on the
multicultural spectrum? " There is a lack
of diversity when it comes to the sales
force selling content both domestically
and internationally, " she says.
Princell hair
sVP, news & Talent,
nBC sports Group
Hair played a pivotal
role in NBC Sports
Group's success with
Premier League. He
sought and hired
authentic, knowledgeable talent to bring
authenticity to the soccer broadcasts. In
turn, ratings are even higher than anticipated.
He says he's especially proud
of the Premiere League talent signed
this year. " The viewers have responded
positively to our talent choices and quality
production of this growing sport and
cultural phenomenon. "
David hudson
sVP, late night
and specials,
TBs/TnT
The continued success
of Conan has
ensconced TBS as
an after-hours TV destination.
In addition to overseeing latenight,
Hudson also leads the production
October 2013
and development of specials for the
networks including the Screen Actors
Guild Awards. He's also responsible for
TNT's Christmas in Washington concert
each December, which last year scored
performances by Diana Ross and
Korean pop phenomenon Psy. There's
still work to be done, however. " Across
the board, [minorities] are being
underserved, and not just as viewers, "
Hudson says.
Charles hutton
VP, loyalty,
Comcast Cable
Hutton spent the
past year building
and leading a new
customer experience
model aimed at increasing
customer retention. His work
on the board of directors for the Urban
League of Metropolitan Denver took
up a chunk of time as well, where he
helped minority candidates with job
placement. When Hutton does his own
hiring, he looks for professionals who
are passionate, resilient, balanced and
display a hearty sense of humor. He's
fun-loving himself, having recently
spit rhymes in a rap with his senior
leadership team.
Quincy Johnson
VP, Digital
advertising and
analytical systems,
Turner
Broadcasting
system
As president of the
Atlanta chapter of the NAMIC, Johnson
can certainly recommend staying with
the same company as he advises
mentees-his own career at Turner
began 14 years ago when he started
as a satellites and transmissions
intern. Today, he's responsible for the
digital ad product development, integration,
testing, execution and analytics
best practices and governance for
Turner's digital properties.
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