Fox Networks Group has found a new president and COO in Brian Sullivan, a longtime Sky executive who moved over to head FNG’s digital operations in 2015.
Peter Rice, president of parent 21st Century Fox and chairman and CEO of FNG, announced the appointment Thursday. It comes just over a month after previous COO Randy Freer moved to Hulu to fill Mike Hopkins’ CEO position.
“Brian is an incredibly talented executive and has been instrumental in leading the direct to consumer efforts across our brands,” said Rice. “Brian’s track record at Sky and his proven expertise in building digital video consumer products has made him an invaluable part of our senior leadership team, and I look forward to working with him to continue to focus and operationalize our revenue, distribution and D2C efforts.”
Sullivan’s appointment comes at an interesting time for FNG, one where its parent company is actively exploring an assets sale — mostly likely to Disney. Any possible sale would see the bulk of the group go to a new buyer, save the Fox Broadcasting Company.
“Fox Networks Group’s exceptional portfolio of brands continues to have an unrivaled reach and influence around the world at a time of dramatic transformation for our industry,” said Sullivan. “I look forward to my expanded role as I continue working with FNG’s leadership to grow our business and drive consumer choice in the emerging TV ecosystem.”
The new role finds Sullivan overseeing revenue and distribution across the group, which includes Fox TV Group, Fox Sports and National Geographic Partners. He also will continue to serve on the Hulu board with Rice and Fox TV Group CEO and chairman Dana Walden.
After beginning his career at Showtime Networks before moving over to a long tenure at Sky, Sullivan arrived at FNG just two years ago. He has since led the digital strategy for all of the group’s network brands.
Sullivan will report directly to Rice. And, per his promotion, distribution president Michael Miard and ad revenue president Joe Marchese will report to Sullivan. The advertising revenue group is also being reorganized so that global solutions executive vp Danielle Maged will now report to Marchese. (FNG Europe and Africa president Jan Koeppen and FNG Latin America president Carlos Martinez will report jointly to Sullivan and Rice.)
