• by Wayne Friedman , September 15, 2014

The 26-year veteran, who most recently was executive vice president of network entertainment sales & marketing for NBC, oversaw much of the NBC key prime-time efforts and other areas.

In a memo to NBC staffers on Monday from Linda Yaccarino, president of advertising sales for NBCUniversal, obtained by Media Daily News, says: “As many of you know, Jim has been a champion of the network, its programming and talent. He nurtured creative partnerships with, and created tremendous value for, our clients on behalf of the NBCUniversal Entertainment, Sports and News groups over the years.”

She adds: “Jim’s reputation in the industry is among the very best. As a mentor, he has contributed to the careers of some of the industry’s finest executives including throughout our entire organization.” Hoffman will leave next month.

Last October, as part of an advertising restructuring at NBC configured to four areas -- entertainment, lifestyle, live and digital -- Hoffman shifted his responsible, reporting to Dan Lovinger. He had reported to Yaccarino. Lovinger heads up NBC’s Ad Sales Entertainment Group as executive vice president -- which in addition to NBC, also handles USA, Syfy and WWE programming. Lovinger previously oversaw Bravo, Oxygen and Style.

The Ad Sales Lifestyle Group -- Bravo, Oxygen, E!, Esquire, Cloo and Chiller -- is run by Laura Molen, executive vice president of cable advertising sales at NBCUniversal.

“Live” programming -- which includes sports, the Olympics and news -- is led by Seth Winter, executive vice president, sales and sales marketing for both NBC Sports Group and NBCUniversal News Group.

Also as part of that restructuring, Scott Schiller expanded his efforts in leading digital platforms at NBC to include NBC News. He is executive vice president of digital advertising sales for NBCUniversal.