• by Amy Corr  @MediaPostOTL, August 13, 2013

Charles Kennedy was named executive vice president, research and insights, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Group. He joins the network from ABC Television Network where he served as senior vice president of research. Kennedy will be charged with oversight of primary, programming, ad sales and digital research. Prior to joining ABC, Kennedy was senior vice president at DYG, a research firm specializing in social trends. His media clients included Meredith Communications, National Geographic, Saatchi & Saatchi, NBC, Fox and ABC. In addition, Liz Mahaffey was elevated to executive vice president, brand strategy, where she’ll oversee strategic planning initiatives. Both executives will report to NBCU Cable Entertainment Chairman Bonnie Hammer. Mahaffey served as executive vice president since 2011 where she had oversight of all research initiatives at the networks, which included USA, Syfy, E!, G4, Sleuth, Chiller and UniHD.