MUMBAI: TBS International president, which oversees channels including Cartoon Network, TCM and Boomerang in the UK, Andy Bird has resigned from his job, to pursue other business interests.
One of the UK’s longest serving London-based multichannel TV executives, Bird has been with Time Warner subsidiary Turner Broadcasting System since 1994. According to the media reports, Louise Sams the current TBS’s general counsel, will replace Bird. Sams will continue to work out of the broadcaster’s Atlanta HQ in the US.
Bird began his broadcasting career in 1985; working for Piccadilly Radio in Manchester. After working on satellite broadcaster BSB’s music channel The Power Station, he joined the That’s Life production team in 1989 and later, in 1991, hooked up with Chris Evans to set up Big & Good Productions. He joined TBS nine years ago as general manager of Turner Entertainment Networks and was promoted to co-managing director of TBS Europe in 1997. He took up his current job in March this year.
According to TBS chairman and chief executive Philip Kent, “Andy has done a great job running TBS International, particularly in developing a management team of extraordinary skill, depth and stability. We all wish him continued success.”
“Louise has been directly involved in our international business for more than seven years, contributing to strategy, policy and operating decisions in scope far beyond her capacity as our company’s chief legal adviser. Her appointment will bring greater visibility to TBS International business issues at our Atlanta headquarters, while preserving our successful operating model of empowered local and regional management and day to day decision making,” he added.
The media reports also indicate that TBS International’s three regional managing directors – Richards in Europe, Juan-Carlos Urdaneta in Latin America and Steve Marcopoto in Asia will now report to Sams.