• by Wayne Friedman , October 7, 2014

A+E Networks longtime chief advertising executive Mel Berning has been promoted to president and chief revenue officer.
Berning -- a 10-year veteran at A+E Networks who most recently had the title of president of advertising sales -- will now have ad sales, digital and research teams, along with distribution and a new “marketing innovations” team reporting to him.

Nancy Dubuc, president/chief executive officer of A+E Networks, stated: "In this new role, he will have oversight of critical revenue streams, including how to best maximize our revenue and how to most effectively serve our partners and clients as technology pushes our monetization capabilities into the future."

Berning’s chief lieutenant, Peter Olsen, gains as well -- becoming executive vice president of advertising sales at A+E Networks, reporting to Berning. Olsen had been executive vice president of History and H2.

A+E Networks is also being restructured into two areas -- female demographics, for networks including Lifetime, Lifetime Movie Network and FYI, and male-skewing/adult demographics for A&E, History and H2.

Dubuc said: "Structuring the sales team by these genres will allow A+E Networks to maximize our position in the marketplace and leverage more opportunities for cross-platform selling, marketing partnerships and efficiencies."

Reporting to Olsen will be Amy Baker, who is now executive vice president of advertising Lifetime, LMN and FYI. She had been executive vice president of advertising sales, Lifetime/LMN.

Also reporting to Olsen will be Brian Joyce, who becomes senior vice president of advertising sales of A&E, History and H2. Previously, he was vice president of East Coast sales for A&E.