Comings & Goings
Vikram Somaya
ESPN has tapped Vikram Somaya for the newly created role of svp, global data officer. He’s charged with heading up the network’s data strategy and working with Disney Media Networks to devise new revenue models and drive sales. He comes from The Weather Company, where he was gm of AdFX and analytics. Before that, he was vp of global operations and audience at Thomson Reuters, managing director of business development and channel sales at Bluekai, evp of sales and marketing at Milabra, vp of strategic alliances at Phorm and vp of strategy management at Operative Media. Vikram was an actor for off off Broadway through 2006, we learned. “I have been known to often drop Shakespeare during particularly dry data conferences,” he says. He’s really into cycling, too, and clocks 4000 miles a year. He’s the father of two boys, and has “the scars to prove it.” Also, he believes he’s the only global data officer with a degree in art history focused on Indian temple architecture.
Domenic Venuto
Speaking of AdFX… the exec who stepped into Vikram’s shoes was Domenic Venuto. As of June 22, he’s gm of AdFX. Formerly WeatherFX, the division creates localized ad targeting solutions using the net’s access to location and weather data. Venuto’s last post was global president, data, technology and partnerships at VivaKi of Publicis Groupe. Other posts include evp, strategic global operations at VivaKi, NY managing director, client solutions at Razorfish and svp, client services at Razorfish. He also created business strategies and led technology implementations for Australian and American clients at Arthur Andersen. Domenic tells us he originally hails from Melbourne, Australia. Work aside, his passion for food runs deep. He’s even trained at the French Culinary institute and occasionally moonlights as a food writer about Australian food in New York. And he’s been published: He wrote the entry for Australian cuisine in Oxford University Press’ upcoming book (to be released this fall) called Savoring Gotham. Domenic enjoys practicing yoga in the winter, and in the summer he spends time on the water sailing—having recently earned his US sailing certification—with his husband, Joe, and their Border Terrier, Charlie.
Teal Newland
Teal Newland was appointed svp, marketing and partner management, digital video, for Condé Nast Entertainment. She comes from StumbleUpon, where she led consumer and trade marketing, advertising solutions and media partnerships. Before that, she was vp at ad agency DigitasLBi, served as a consultant for entertainment companies like The Walt Disney Company, and worked at Microsoft on global revenue and media innovation for six years. Teal says if she didn’t work for CNÉ, she’d be a health and wellness guru. “I go away alone every year for a week to hike and drink green juice in the canyons around Calabasas,” she says. “I also live in the Chelsea/Flatiron area of Manhattan and am intent on trying every specialty gym in the neighborhood—with a new love of group heavy bag boxing classes. Yes, it’s a thing.”
Heather Vaughan
Heather Vaughan now has an expanded role at Pac-12 as vp of marketing for both the Pac-12 Conference and Pac-12 Networks. Before the promotion she held the vp of marketing role for just the Conference. Before working for the company she was senior director of marketing and creative for the Sacramento Kings for a decade. Other past work includes positions at marketing and advertising agencies, including Grey Advertising, Sagon-Phior and Thielen and Associates. Heather said that she moved around a lot as a kid, since her dad was in the military. “I had the opportunity to live in Japan for a summer and Hawaii for three years and have since been a huge fan of world travel,” she tells us. She married her high school sweetheart. “We met when I was 11 and he was 12 but didn’t start dating until we were seniors.” When she took Animal Science as a freshman at the agricultural school Cal State Chico, she decided to be a vegetarian and has been ever since. She also had the opportunity to teach at the Art Institute in Sacramento, where she had her students create inspiration books to share at the top of each class. “If only I had the foresight to have them put their inspiration elements online, I could have created Pinterest (which I’m obsessed with).”