Joe Abruzzese

Years in Cable: 11
Education: Seton Hall University
Best Advice: Be true to yourself, follow your instincts.

After more than a dozen years at Discovery, advertisers continue to be sold on Abruzzese. Charismatic, confident and capable, he continually reinvents the company’s sales plan across U.S. markets, winning business with innovative strategies—not to mention one heck of a portfolio to sell. The plan of splitting his sales force into two divisions under Scott Felenstein and Sharon O’Sullivan has been delivering big, resulting in higher dollar volumes for some of the company’s emerging networks. The big question now is whether he’ll stay on or retire now that the contract he renewed in 2012 is winding down. Discovery chief David Zaslav has made no secret of his wish to keep Abruzzese as long as he can. Zaslav just re-upped for the rest of the decade. Will Abruzzese do the same?

TV show I’d most like to have a cameo in: “Mad Men”

John, Paul, George or Ringo? Mick Jagger

Oscars or Grammys? Oscars

Favorite Restaurant: Valbella

Desert island album? Dr. John

The last time I had a good laugh: Last time I was with Keith Turner

If someone forced me to cut the cord and only watch 3 over-the-top shows, they would be: “The Americans,” “Mad Men,” “Deadliest Catch”