33 | THE INNOVATORS
Joan Gillman
Title: President, Time Warner Cable Media Sales; EVP, Time Warner Cable
Years in Cable: 7
Education: MA, GWU; BA, Holy Cross
Best Advice in 7 Words or Less: Don’t be afraid to swim upstream
Melinda Witmer
Title: EVP/Chief Programming Officer
Years in Cable: 16
(CableFAX estimate)
Education: BS, U of AZ; JD, U of PA
Why them? From new advanced advertising formats in on-demand and interactive TV, to regional sports networks and new video content, Gillman and Witmer are the dual powers driving innovation in advertising and programming at Time Warner Cable. Ad sales nearly topped $900 million, and Gillman hopes to finish 2011 on a continued strong note. Witmer is overseeing the development and launch of TWC’s Los Angeles Lakers-focused regional sports networks, after Time Warner snagged the rights from Fox Sports Net. She’s also working with the Pac-12 conference to launch six regional channels.
Year Ahead: Gillman has said it’s critical for TWC to standardize systems that slice and dice market data in multiple ways. Look for the company to roll out more targeted ads using leading-edge data strategies in 2012.
Joan Gillman
Favorite meal that I can also prepare myself: Veal Scaloppini, roasted potatoes and green beans.
Biggest innovation in cable over the last year: TV on the iPad.
Favorite “going out” town: Barcelona
Favorite business and/or motivational book: Memoirs of great leaders.
Guilty television pleasure: With young kids, getting the time to watch a movie is a guilty TV pleasure. ?
