Starz Media said Tuesday that it has named former Home Box Office executives Carmi Zlotnik as managing director of Starz Media and John Penney as executive vice president strategy and business development for Starz LLC. In announcing the moves, Starz said that executive vice president of production and development Bill Hamm is stepping down.
These are the first major executive appointments for Albrecht, who joined Starz on Jan. 1.
Zlotnik, who will be based in Beverly Hills and report to Albrecht, will manage production of Starz Media's original series, including returning hit Spartacus: Blood and Sand and new dramatic series Camelot, as well as future shows and series. Zlotnik was most recently head of global operations for IMG Global Media. Prior to that, he spent 20-years at HBO in various executive level capacities, including responsibilities for original programming production, business development, new media and animation.
"Carmi and I have worked together for most of the last 20 years, so I know him to be an executive who has always demonstrated a terrific instinct for the creative as well as the nuts and bolts of production," Albrecht said in a statement. "His wealth of experience, coupled with his close working relationships with many talented producers, will be invaluable for Starz moving forward.
Penney also will be based in Beverly Hills and report to Albrecht. He will advise the CEO in evaluating and building key businesses, as well as developing new business opportunities. Penney had worked with Albrecht at Foresee Entertainment as president and head of corporate development and as head of strategy for IMG Global Media. A veteran of HBO as well - where he served as senior vice president, digital initiatives - Penney has also held executive positions at AT&T, Viacom, ACTV, Bernstein Research and Scient.
"I have known John for many years, dating back to our days at HBO; he has a wealth of traditional and new media and technology experience which will be extremely helpful as we build Starz into a more multi-dimensional media company," Albrecht added in a statement.
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