• by Wayne Friedman , January 11, 2007

Turner Broadcasting has hired former Universal Studios' marketing executive Beth Goss as its new head of advertising sales for Cartoon Network.

Goss, who will carry the title of executive vice president of Cartoon Network's ad sales, marketing and enterprises group, has had a long career in marketing, promotion and licensing--but limited experience in TV sales. But according to Turner executives, this is exactly what the company is looking for--especially since the kids' network businesses are typically heavy into licensing and promotion, two areas Goss knows well.

For the last several years, she has been working on theatrical and TV properties---most recently at Universal Studios. She's been involved with "King Kong," "The Fast and the Furious" franchise, "Curious George" and "Scarface," as well as such television properties as "Battlestar Galactica."

Since 2004, Goss has been executive vice president of Universal Studios consumer products group, where she manages global licensing and retail strategies for the company and its operating divisions.

From 2002-2004, she was executive vice president of Universal's The Brand Group. Before coming to Universal in 1999, she had positions with Polygram Films and Polygram Filmed Entertainment. She also worked at DDB Needham and McCann Erickson, in their media-buying departments.

This would not be the first time a major TV network hired an executive with limited or no TV sales experience. Recently, NBC hired Michael Pilot, a General Electric executive since 2002, as president of its advertising-sales division. Pilot, who replaced Keith Turner, had been president of the Equipment Finance Group for G.E., which controls NBC Universal.