Patrick Younge
Title: President/GM, Travel Channel Media
Age: 45
Education: University College Cardiff, Wales; London Business School

Why Him? This year, Travel Channel is ranked among the Top 15 cable networks in terms of prime time ratings growth and, remarkably, has successfully reduced the median age of its viewership to 45 (down 5 years in 12 months). Sadly, this is the last year we’ll have Younge as a travel guide, though. In June, it was announced that he’d been named Chief Creative Officer for BBC Vision Productions, one of the most significant roles in the UK television industry. The gig will allow the amiable Pat to return home to with his er, younge, family.

Web Passport: Younge inspired Travel Channel Studios, which launched in June 2009, a full-service production unit that creates high-quality, low-cost short-form video. The Studios recently crafted a partnership with Yahoo! Travel to produce 100 destination videos.

Vacation Sale: The big news with Travel, of course, was the sale of 65% of the asset to Scripps late in ’09. No doubt Younge’s good work with Travel made it a highly desirable entity.

Year Ahead:

It’s tough to know what Younge will encounter in his new gig, but his history at Travel indicates he’ll do fine.