General Manager (GM) - TV Stations Group - California, USA based English and Spanish Language Broadcasting
CBS and Azteca Affiliate Stations
Filcro Media Staffing Tony Filson (FMS-TF) reporting to client Executive Search Committee (ESC) comprised of Chief Financial Officer, President and Chairman of the Board
Client
Diversified multinational conglomerate with broadcasting, real estate, banking, food services, industrial and transportation holdings. Primary holdings in The Americas.
The company is known for acquiring companies in diverse business sectors and making them “best in class” by installing new management and best practices to optimize financial return.
Search
GM for two acquired (OTA) broadcast TV stations with must-carry, located in Southern California
Officer in Charge of Search -
Tony Filson of Filcro Media Staffing in New York, NY
Client Situation
The owners recently acquired multiple English and Spanish TV broadcast assets located in Southern California. The assignment was to recruit and attract a new TV station group GM to manage the broadcasting properties and strategically lead the organization across multiple media platforms and affiliate relationships.
After acquiring the broadcast properties the owners infused approximately $20,000,000.00 U.S. to upgrade the facilities, production, post, programming, engineering and operational resources.
The new station owners wanted to capitalize on a growing yet under-served Hispanic market in their DMA and also optimize business, creative and technical opportunities for the multiple TV stations in a “high income” demographics in Southern California.
An executive search committee was formed consisting of the CFO, President & Chairman of the diversified holding companies. Tony Filson (TF) was assigned as the Officer in Charge of Search (OIC) and conducted the national search from Filcro Media’s New York City offices for complete U.S. OTA station coverage.
Executive Search Committee Member Industry and Sector inclusion
Television Broadcasting
Radio Broadcasting
Online Interactive
Banking
Industrial Transportation
QSR - Quick Service Restaurant
The ESC designated the CFO as the initial point of contact.
Subsequent to Filcro Media Staffing being retained
Filcro Media Staffing OIC Tony Filson participated in a number of phone conferences with the CFO, President & Chairman.
Filcro Media Staffing was provided with organizational charts, financial statements and personnel records relevant to the search. Tony Filson reviewed the affiliate agreements, BO&E infrastructure, ratings by day-part, sales projections and programming costs to established a profile that met with the consensus of the executive search committee based on the firm’s experience with similar searches and the board's desired short and long term business goals.
Filcro Media Staffing was fortunate to have a CFO functioning as liaison who was always accessible and able to provide information on a timely basis.
Some of the challenges facing the new TV GM / General Manager
Change Management
TV Programming / National / Regional / Local - Costs of Production, Co-Production, Syndicated Programming, Affiliate Relationships.
Best Practices
GSM Identification - Optimizing Sales Across all Platforms
Hispanic and English Market Adaptation and Associated TV Programming
The Morale of the Company
Attracting and Retaining Business, Technical & Creative Executives
Growth of Programming in New Markets Across Multiple Media Platforms in Multiple Languages
To Monetize Digital Assets
Bring Continuity of Management to the Local Community Served, The Broadcasting Community, Station Employees, Ad Agencies, Clients, Programming Partners and The Networks (CBS & Azteca) as Affiliates.
Make the multiple stations profitable vs. prior modality
Solution
Filcro Media Staffing with Tony Filson as Office in Charge of Search proceeded to Identify the "best in industry" Presidents, CEO’s, GM’s and TV Station Group Presidents from appropriate DMA’s with “distinct similarities” and proven efficacy with growth objectives relevant to the ecology of the client’s newly acquired media holdings.
Opportunities in growing markets and high net-worth demos were not capitalized on in the past in. Local, Regional or National markets. The organization need a change agent who could create a culture of success by infusing broad acumen that would be respected by each business, technical and creative department head that was going to be part of the growing station group's future.
Monetization of cross-platform resources was also essential to optimize localization revenue as well as regional and national opportunities for sponsorships and advertising sales.
Successful candidate identified
A President & CEO of one of Americas leading broadcasting companies who’s experience and professional interests were directly in line with those of the client company.
In his role prior to being recruited by the firm he oversaw the day to day operations for 42 TV stations in 25 markets with 8 Regional Vice Presidents reporting into him. His experience managing, hiring, training and motivating people with diverse backgrounds was well noted in the broadcasting industry.
He brought to the new owners 25 years of television station management on a national level. His business, technology, creative and financial acumen placed him as one of the top TV broadcasting executives in his space, in America. His programming and scheduling expertise allowed him to dominate the top National DMA’s under his management.
This TV executive also had experience enhancing and developing media technology in a practical manner as the properties he managed enhanced National, Regional and Local monetization across multiple media platforms. This TV executive was not a technology for technology's sake type of broadcasting executive. His mature approach to budgets, development and utilization of technology were well above the mean for a “TV Stations Group” President.
This TV executive also served as both Chairman and President of the Board of Directors of two State Associations of Broadcasters and the Station Group needed a foothold into these markets to become a more important player in regional and national markets.
Summary
The executive and his family were successfully attracted and relocated by an enthusiastic board and Chairman. Filcro Media Staffing with Tony Filson as OIC participated in the employment contract phase with the Candidate, Chairman, President and CFO. The ownership was exceptionally pleased with the firm’s modality, efficacy and cadence in attracting new leadership to secure this substantial media property investment.
Filcro Media Staffing, All rights reserved, 1985 - 2012 Filcro Media Staffing Reviews - National Media and Broadcasting Executive Search Firms - Selected Case Histories for GM’s and Presidents of TV Station Groups.
Review of Filcro Media Staffing New York International media and broadcasting executive search firms across multiple media platforms. Tony Filson Officer in Charge of Search Filcro Media Staffing - Copyright 1985 - 2012 All Rights Reserved for Reviews. http://www.ExecutiveSearch.TV Filcro Media Staffing New York