Discovery, Viacom Promote Ad Sales Execs

Felenstein, O'Sullivan, Scalzo and Dominus get new posts

By Jon Lafayette -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/19/2013 10:39:34 AM

Discovery Communications and Viacom promoted senior advertising sales executives to new posts.

Scott Felenstein and Sharon O'Sullivan were named executive VPs, national ad sales, at Discovery.

At Viacom, Jennie Scalzo was promoted to senior VP, music sales, and Ellen Dominus was named senior VP, entertainment sales.

Felenstein, who had been senior VP, national ad sales, will lead sales teams for Discovery Channel, Science Channel, Velocity, Military Channel and Destination America. O'Sullivan, also previously a senior VP, will lead teams for TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery and Discovery Fit and Health. Both executives report to Joe Abruzzese, president of ad sales for Discovery Communications.

Discovery also promoted Scott Kohn to senior VP, regional ad sales, overseeing its Chicago, Atlanta and Detroit sales offices. He'd previously been VP for the Midwest region and reports to Ben Price, senior VP national ad sales.

"Our top priority within the Discovery sales organization is to provide the highest level of service and strategic solutions for all of our client and agency partners," Abruzzese said in a statement. "Year after year, Scott, Sharon and Scott have each demonstrated outstanding management skills, and the utmost quality of client service anywhere in our industry. I look forward to working with them in their new capacities to drive results for our partners and continued success for Discovery."

Scalzo, who had been senior VP of integrated marketing for MTV, MTV2 and mtvU, will be responsible for MTV, MTV2, mtvU, VH1, VH1 Classic and Palladia sales. Dominus, who had been VP of music and entertainment ad sales, will oversee sales efforts for CMT, Comedy Central, Spike and TV Land.

The company said Scalzo and Dominus will provide a strategic link between Viacom's Music and Entertainment Ad Sales group and the channels it supports and will work closely with channel leadership to drive sales strategy and products that are consistent with each brand.

"Our clients want more than a simple off the shelf approach to marketing solutions; they want deep custom partnerships that use every creative tool in our shed to get their messages to our audiences," said Jeff Lucas, head of sales for music and entertainment at Viacom, to whom they will report.   "Jeannie and Ellen live and breathe our brands, and have an unrivalled command of how to make those brands best work for clients on every platform."