Warner Bros. Discovery restructures ad sales team as close of upfront nears
Agency-oriented reshuffle anticipated to take effect by Labor Day.
“Over the past year, we have been listening to our clients and partners and have seen firsthand what is delivering real value for them and great performance for us,” said Jon Steinlauf, chief U.S. advertising sales officer at Warner Bros. Discovery, in a statement. “This new structure will allow us to deliver what matters most for all—creating a single and seamless interface into the full world of WBD.”
The new structure will roll out over the coming weeks and is anticipated to be completed by Labor Day, according to a statement from Warner Bros. Discovery. No jobs were eliminated as part of the restructuring, the company said.
The agency-focused teams will be led by Marybeth Strobel and Greg Regis, both executive VPs of advertising at Warner Bros. Discovery. Strobel will oversee relationships with holding company agencies Omnicom, Magna and Dentsu, while Regis will work with Publicis, GroupM and Horizon.
Jon Diament, executive VP of ad sales, will lead a team dedicated to partnerships for Warner Bros. Discovery’s sports portfolio, including the NBA, NCAA, MLB and NHL, as well as serving as the primary sales contact for internal stakeholders. Ryan Gould will oversee a newly formed digital sales team, including Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming assets Max, Discovery+, WBD Stream and CNN Digital as well as its advanced advertising and programmatic ad sales. Sheereen Russell will lead a partnership team for Warner Bros. Discovery’s TV assets that also incorporates other divisions within the company, such as theatrical, gaming, distribution and licensing, while continuing to lead the sales division’s DE&I team.
Executives continuing in their current roles include Laura Galietta, who oversees custom partner activations across Warner Bros. Discovery’s portfolio; Robert Voltaggio, who leads sales revenue, planning and activation for U.S. networks and digital platforms; and Andrea Zapata, who oversees data, measurement and research for the company.
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CLARIFICATION: This story has been updated to reflect Ryan Gould's new position.