As part of a new global communications structure, National Geographic Channels have promoted veterans Russell Howard and Cherry Yates.
Aimed at better aligning communications synergies between the networks' regional offices around the world with its U.S. efforts emanating from the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington D.C. the organization has promoted Howard to senior vice president of communications worldwide. For her part, Yates has been elevated to vice president of marketing and communications for National Geographic Channels International. She now reports to Howard, who continues to report to Steve Schiffman, president of National Geographic Channel US.
The elevations of Yates and Howard's comes amidst enhanced coordination between NGC US and NGCI, which have adopted a global logo and on-air look and continue to increase global co-production of programming. Late last year, the networks rolled out the first global tag line, "Live Curious," first-ever global brand campaign and largest ever global programming initiative, Great Migrations, which is slated to debut this fall.
Moreover, Nat Geo Wild was uncaged this spring in the U.S. as the first network from the company's global portfolio to migrate to the States, assuming channel positions previously occupied by Fox Reality Channel. Nat Geo Wild is also the first network to be programmed by a single executive, Geoff Daniels, senior vice president of development and production for National Geographic Channels International.
"NGC US will be 10-years-old next year. A notable success since launch, it's now poised for even greater success as it transitions into more of a global media brand in partnership with its sister network, NGCI, and other global divisions of NGS," said David Haslingden, CEO National Geographic Channels Worldwide in a statement. "Consolidation of our communications efforts is a strategic next step in fostering global collaboration and collective inspiration, and at the same time will facilitate greater centralized resources for each region to localize campaigns for their specific audiences."
Overseeing the new global communications structure is Howard, who has led NGC US's communications team since before the network's 2001 launch. In addition to Yates, Chris Albert, vice president of communications and talent management NGC, will continue to report to Howard and will focus on network initiatives, program publicity and media relations for the U.S. market.
In her new post, Yates will facilitate global publicity efforts for NGCI in 165 countries and support regional marketing and ad sales initiatives. Reporting directly to Howard, Yates, who heads a team of six, will also collaborate closely with Rafael Sandor, executive vice president of creative and arketing for Fox International Channels and NGCI. She will continue to be the key liaison between NGS divisions and NGCI offices, helping to leverage cross-divisional resources and support multidivisional goals.
Yates joined NGCI as publicity manager in 2004, responsible for facilitating program publicity for global priorities and talent management. She was promoted to director of marketing and communications in 2006 and to senior director in 2008, where her role expanded to include trade advertising and support of regional marketing and ad sales initiatives.
