Lifetime Networks Names OMD Managing Director Debbie Richman, Leading Industry Innovator in Multi-Platform Partnerships, Executive Vice President, Ad Sales

Lifetime Networks Names OMD Managing Director Debbie Richman, Leading Industry Innovator in Multi-Platform Partnerships, Executive Vice President, Ad Sales

NEW YORK, March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Lifetime Networks President and CEO Andrea Wong today filled a key position in her senior management team by naming OMD Managing Director Debbie Richman, an innovative leader in forging groundbreaking multi-platform partnerships during her more than 20-year media career, the company's new Executive Vice President, Ad Sales.

In her new position, effective April 1, Richman will oversee all ad sales for Lifetime Television and Lifetime Movie Network, the two most-watched women's networks, as well as Lifetime Real Women and Lifetime Digital, which includes the popular myLifetime.com. Richman will be based in New York and report to Wong.

Said Wong: "An executive of formidable stature with extensive relationships in the media community, Debbie has an outstanding record developing innovative partnerships and client models in this fast-changing business environment. Leveraging the expanding platforms against the powerful, top-rated Lifetime brand and our programming assets, Debbie and her team will create even more opportunities and greater value for our advertisers, as well as growth for our organization."

As Managing Director, National Broadcast, OMD, since 2005, Richman authored a number of industry "firsts." With her dedicated team for digital investment (online, broadband, Tivo, HD, 3D and VOD), she crafted the historic combined linear/digital upfront with MTV Networks. She also pioneered exclusive product integration deals with both cable and broadcast networks that spanned OMD's client portfolio on both traditional and emerging platforms.

These deals gave her clients access to projects, getting in on the ground floor and into the script development process early on which allowed for more natural and meaningful brand exposure. Surrounding the content across platforms further enhanced the brand experience ("Five Days" on Sci-Fi and "Nissan" and "Heroes" on NBC). Most recently, she was instrumental in bringing a major product integration into Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report," which was named "The Hail to the Cheese: Stephen Colbert Nacho Cheese Doritos 2008 Presidential Campaign."

During her 10-year tenure, Richman also created the OMD Summit, gathering client and industry leaders to discuss new approaches to the Upfront and leveraging branded entertainment. Additionally, she was instrumental in leading the OMD National Programming Forum for her clients that educated them on how best to partner with a content provider.

Previously, Richman was Director of National Television at Optimum Media (which folded into OMD in 2002). At Optimum, she managed the investment of billings for over 40 blue-chip accounts including Hershey, Universal Pictures, Mobil, Clorox, McDonald's, State Farm and JC Penney.

Richman ran the Johnson & Johnson National Broadcast AOR for 10 years at two separate advertising agencies. She was Vice President, Group Media Supervisor, at McCann-Erickson from 1993-1997, and Vice President, Media Supervisor, at Young & Rubicam from 1988-1993. She began her media career in 1984 at Ogilvy & Mather where she worked on accounts such as Smith Barney, International Playtex, Duracell, Campbell Soup and Hallmark.

A 2005 Advertising Age Woman to Watch, Richman graduated from Emory University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. She is a member of the 4A's and resides with her family in Old Westbury, New York.

LIFETIME is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, LIFETIME is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. LIFETIME Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women and Lifetime Digital (including myLifetime.com) are part of LIFETIME Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

Source: Lifetime Networks

CONTACT: Gary Morgenstein of Lifetime Networks, +1-212-424-7162,
morgenstein@lifetimetv.com

Web site: http://www.mylifetime.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment