Comings & Goings

 

Mike White has decided to continue his role as Chairman of the Board, pres and CEO of DIRECTV after his current contract expires Jan 1. In his three years at the helm, White has overseen record performance levels and a 54% increase in the company’s stock price. "I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to lead DIRECTV and its creative, talented and dedicated employees at this exciting and challenging time," said White in a release. "I remain fully committed to continue increasing value for our shareholders by providing the best video experience for all of our customers.” Prior to landing at the DBS, White was CEO of PepsiCo International and vice chairman of PepsiCo for nearly 20 years.

 

 

 

IP video solutions company Haivision has tapped Chance Mason to lead its Internet Media Division as evp. He’ll lead the division’s objective of delivering media streaming solutions for event broadcasts, live cloud transcoding, OTT applications, the company’s cloud-based online video platform and more. Most recently Mason was svp of Saas, a cloud solutions and services company, where he integrated video platform operations across various market segments. Chance spends time with his 3-year-old, his 5-year-old, motorcycle riding, boating and cooking. He also loves Mexican food and the Atlanta Falcons.

 

 

 

The Weather Channel has named David Clark president. He’ll head up all programming, strategy and ops at the network. Clark has served as evp, Sales and Partnership Development at The Madison Square Garden Company. Before that he was evp and gm of Fuse. David’s focus is his work and his family, including his two young boys, Nicholas and Reid. “That’s enough to keep me entertained,” he says. “But I’ve done a lot of adventure travel, volunteer work through Big Brothers Big Sisters and I’m a photography junkie. And, I love the New York Knicks.”

 

Brooke Runnette has been hired as vp, Development and Special Projects for National Geographic Channel. She’ll work out of the net’s D.C. HQ and develop series and event specials. Runnette comes from Discovery Channel. There she served as executive producer and director of development for specials, including Shark Week, which she has led successfully since 2009. For instance, the 2010 Shark Week had the best ratings in the event’s 23-year history. She also worked at TLC as executive director of programming for series like “Little People, Big World” and “Toddlers & Tiaras.” Brooke tells us her scariest TV moment occurred when she lied to a policeman deep in Kurdish Turkey who had a machine gun pointed at her chest. The lie? She told him that she did have official permission to shoot there. Her most edifying moment was "getting Craig Ferguson to dive with sharks and having him emerge beaming with a 1000-watt glow of appreciation for them,” she says. Another fun fact: Brooke once trained to be a chef. Also, she has the most fun with her 7-year-old, who has a crazy sense of humor and loves “Star Wars.” “What could be better?”