ION Media Networks Wednesday announced that Carole Smith has been named vice president of research.
Smith will be responsible for designing and conducting qualitative and quantitative research and preparing analyses and recommendations to the company’s advertising, distribution, programming, marketing and public relations departments.
“We are thrilled to have Carole join our team,” Eleo Hensleigh, chief marketing officer, ION Media Networks, said in a statement. “Her comprehensive research knowledge and diverse media experience will greatly support ION Television’s strategic repositioning as a general entertainment destination targeting the 25-54 demographic.”
In her new role, Smith will be charged with building a strong research department that integrates a wide variety of research methods and data sources to gain new insights into traditional and new media effectiveness, market trends and program and concept viability, company officials said.
“I am very excited to join ION at such a pivotal time in the company’s history,” Smith said in a statement. “ION Television has an outstanding plan for the future, and I look forward to the challenge of helping shape the network’s strategic initiatives moving forward.”
Smith most recently served as vice president of research for VH1, CMT and Logo and was responsible for all market research of these three MTV Networks’ cable television and multiplatform divisions.
Previously, Smith held executive level research positions at both Univision and the ABC Television Network.
