AMC Networks promotes Kim Kelleher to chief commercial officer in ad sales shuffle

Kim Kelleher has been named chief commercial officer for AMC Networks as the company announces several shifts to streamline its sales business. Kelleher, who was previously president of commercial revenue and partnerships, will report directly to CEO Christina Spade with a trio of executives under her purview, forming a centralized commercial revenue unit. 

The move follows shifts in media to consolidate channels for advertisers to access unified cross-portfolio buying. Kelleher and her team will lead streamlined sales and partnerships across AMC properties including its cable and digital channels, such as AMC+, IFC, SundanceTV, Shudder, We TV, Acorn TV and AllBlk.

Kelleher joined AMC Networks, known for shows like “The Walking Dead” and “Better Call Saul,” in 2019 after acting in various executive roles for publishing companies including Condé Nast and Time Inc. In her previous role at AMC, she led the company’s commercial revenue team as well as innovations in its advertising, plus AMC’s Digital Operations team that oversees marketing and development in gaming, licensing and merchandising, publishing and e-commerce.

Mike Pears, executive VP of distribution and content sales and Amy Leasca, senior VP of partner management, will report to Kelleher, alongside Roy Cho, previously senior VP of business development and partner management, who has been promoted to executive VP of distribution.

“A cohesive, forward-looking commercial revenue team that has responsibility for all of our valuable partner relationships across advertisers, affiliates and new digital platforms makes strong strategic sense and Kim is the perfect executive to lead it,” Spade said in a statement. “She has brought her own unique talent, ingenuity and dynamic leadership to our commercial revenue group. We are thrilled to apply her abilities to an even more comprehensive role to drive the company’s top-line growth.”

AMC Networks named the team alongside news that its current president of distribution and development, Josh Reader, will depart the company in early 2023 to found “a new venture in the content creation and blockchain space,” according to AMC.