Discovery announced its decision to name Jim Keller Executive VP of its digital ad sales. "Jim is one of the most experienced advanced advertising sales leaders in the business and he joins Discovery at a critical time, as we launch Discovery+ in January and begin scaling our direct-to-consumer advertising opportunities,” said John Steinlauf, Chief U.S. Ad Sales Officer. “Our ambition is to drive both rapid growths in DTC ad sales for Discovery+ and utilize Jim’s deep expertise to accelerate our advanced advertising and data-driven cross-platform sales solutions, while growing Discovery’s high-quality audience, especially with female and family demographics.”
In the new role, Keller will lead the strategic development of all Discovery’s U.S. digital ad sales, spanning Discovery Plus, launching early next year, as well as the company’s streaming TV Everywhere Go apps, VOD, owned sites, programmatic and social. “Discovery’s quality programming across verticals, combined with top talent and valuable brands, offer a marketing space that is one of the broadest and safest in digital video, which will soon be expanded with the launch of Discovery Plus,” Keller said.
The role includes ad sales responsibility for Discovery+ as well as the company’s Go streaming apps for authenticated cable subscribers, VOD, owned sites, programmatic, and social. He’ll develop and monetize all advanced and data-driven digital and linear opportunities across Discovery’s portfolio. At Discovery, Keller will be based in New York City and report to Steinlauf. “I am thrilled to be joining a great management team that is methodically preparing to bring to market a world-class product with a ton of opportunities for advertising partners, as well as creating innovative solutions for marketers, as Discovery embarks upon an exciting next chapter,” he said.
Keller was recently named Hulu’s VP, head of national advertising sales, where he was responsible for monetization strategies across all parts of the advertising sales business. He was then promoted following the April departure of then-ad sales chief Peter Naylor, who left for a newly created position at Snap as VP, Americas. Keller has exited Hulu after almost seven years, set to join Discovery less than a month before the debut of the cabler’s Discovery Plus direct-to-consumer service. “Before joining Hulu in 2014, Keller served in senior leadership roles at NBCUniversal, where he was responsible for Bravo’s digital and linear entities. He also held ad sales roles at MTV Networks, NBC Sports and NBC Olympics, and Fox Sports Networks.
Jim is one of the most experienced advanced advertising sales leaders in the business and he joins Discovery at a critical time, as we launch Discovery+ in January and begin scaling our direct-to-consumer advertising opportunities. Our ambition is to drive both rapid growths in DTC ad sales for Discovery+ and utilize Jim’s deep expertise to accelerate our advanced advertising and data-driven cross-platform sales solutions, while growing Discovery’s high-quality audience, especially with female and family demographics.” John Steinlauf Chief U.S. Ad Sales Officer
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