Versant, spinoff company of Comcast that will include such networks as MSNBC, CNBC, USA Network, Oxygen and E!, announced a series of new appointments to its leadership team.Expected to be completed later this year, the spinoff also will include Oxygen, SYFY, and Golf Channel, as well as digital entities Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow and Sports Engine.Frank Tanki will be chief marketing officer for entertainment and sports. Tanki founded TNK Marketing, which advised consumer, experiential and sports brands, and previously had senior roles Anthem Sports and Entertainment and executive positions at Viacom.Tom Clendenin has been appointed chief marketing officer for CNBC and MSNBC, overseeing marketing efforts for both brands. He most recently was senior vice president and chief marketing officer for NBCUniversal News Group, and previously spent 15 years at CNBC. He also had major roles at ESPN, Aeropostale and Old Navy.Brian Carovillano will serve as senior vice president, standards and editorial partnerships for news. He has led the NBCU News Group standards team since 2022. He also helped oversee elections coverage, working with the NBC News Decision Desk and on the board of the National Election Pool. He also has held senior roles at the Associated Press, including as global managing editor.Nate Balogh will serve as executive vice president and chief information officer, leading business and technical operations. That will include leading business and product operations, distribution and media operations, workplace operations and facilities, technology management and strategy, and cyber security. He most recently was senior vice president and CIO for NBCUniversal Media Group.Brian Duffy will be vice president, technical operations, and will report to Balogh. He will lead the development of the company’s distribution and media operations technology. Kyle Strickland will be the senior vice president, business product and operations, also reporting to Balogh. He will be responsible for product and architecture across human resources, finance, ad sales, marketing and content supply chair. His duties also include the business operations teams that support the news and sports divisions.Jayshree Mahtani will serve as senior vice president, associate general counsel for corporate governance, M&A, and commercial transactions and assistant corporate secretary. She most recently was general counsel and senior vice president of operations at Skillshare, and previously had senior legal roles at Shutterstock and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.Andrew Bortech will be senior vice president and associate general counsel, sports, digital and direct-to-consumer. For the past 12 years, he’s been with NBCU working on NBC Sports and Sports Next. That has included digital and technology transactions, sports rights acquisitions, and overseeing business and legal affairs for Sports Next ventures.
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