Comings & Goings
Turner has undergone some restructuring this week. Rob Sorcher was named evp/chief content officer for Cartoon Network, and Mike Lazzo is now evp/creative director for Adult Swim. Both execs will take on the digital and gaming businesses for each of their networks and will continue to develop original and acquired content. “By bringing together all content on one team for each network, we will improve communication and promote idea sharing even more and align strategic initiatives,” said Stuart Snyder, president and chief operating officer of Turner Broadcasting’s Animation, Young Adults & Kids Media Division in a release. Before the promotion, Sorcher was chief content officer for Cartoon Network. He’ll continue to oversee Cartoon Network Studios as well. He also served as evp of programming and production for AMC Network, evp and gm for USA Network and evp of programming and production for Fox Family Channel.
Mike Lazzo
Mike Lazzo was previously svp, programming and production for Adult Swim and Williams Street Studios. He began at Cartoon Network as a program exec when it launched in October 1992 and held the director, vp and svp of programming roles. In 2001, he launched Adult Swim as a two-hour block of programming airing twice weekly, and it’s grown from there. Mike tells us he’s an avid reader and golfer.
Ensequence has appointed Roger Demuth as chief technology officer. He has more than 20 years of experience in the tech field, seven of which were spent leading engineering at Ensequence. His new post entails leading the Ensequence development, engineering, services and quality assurance teams. Demuth also served as vp of engineering at Skitter TV and a vice president of engineering at itaas. He tells us that in his younger years he played rugby—as a “hooker.” Also, he rides motorcycles. “My current bike is a Honda 1300,” he says. A bit of a daredevil, Roger has skydived and hang-glided. His down time is often spent reading history—currently “The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam,” which presents “the pervasive presence of folly in government,” and “A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century,” both by Barbara Tuchman.
Kristina Levsky
Ovation has tapped Kristina Levsky as vp, public relations and corporate communications to lead its new PR department. She’ll develop and implement the net’s communications strategy, including consumer and business media, corporate, award campaigns, media tours and speaking arrangements. Previously, Levsky founded the consultancy Influencer PR group, whose clients included Acura, RPA, Sundance Film Festival and E3. She also served as director of public relations, promotions and events at ShoeDazzle.com and senior publicist at NBCU’s G4 TV. Kristina was born in the Ukraine and speaks fluent Russian. In her free time she likes to go hiking and play tennis. Her favorite travel destination is Costa Rica.
