Profile: Seasoned innovator, Rebecca Rormark, senior vice-president of marketing, Discovery Networks UK

biggest marketing campaign for London Ink, a show that goes behind the
scenes at a tattoo parlour. The work, which was created by Mother,
included the creation of a giant sculpture of a tattooed man swimming
through grass.

After 10 years in the US, her move back across the pond has allowed her
to catch up with friends and family and reacquaint herself with British
favourites such as Jaffa Cakes. 'I always felt like a Brit in New York,
despite living there for eight years,' she says.

Rormark, 39, clearly enjoys her wide-ranging remit heading on- and
off-air marketing and communications for all 10 Discovery Networks UK
channels, from the core Discovery Channel to Discovery HD, Discovery
Science, Discovery Travel & Living and Animal Planet.

She has already rebranded the Real Time Channel and overseen a brand
campaign designed to shift Discovery Channel to a 'younger and more
dynamic' positioning.

Saying she has a 'distinct fondness for factual programming', Rormark
becomes animated when discussing popular Discovery shows including
Deadliest Catch, a series chronicling the trials and tribulations of
Alaskan crab fishermen at sea. There is no doubt that Rormark, who began
her career as a receptionist at The Children's Channel, is both a TV and
Discovery brand evangelist. When asked to name her favourite show, she
reels off an extensive list of programmes drawn from across almost all
of the Discovery Networks channels.

It is easy to see how Rormark has quickly made her mark on the UK
television scene. Happy to get stuck in with grass-roots activity, in
July she travelled to Bristol to support the marketing activity for
Discovery's 20th anniversary 'Shark Week' on the ground.

A seasoned international marketer, at MTV Rormark launched a number of
channels into new markets. Working at Nickelodeon also gave her a taste
of promoting international film releases. Married to a singer-songwriter
and the mother of two young girls, Rormark claims that one of her most
glamorous moments was being on the orange carpet at The Rugrats Movie
premiere.

Another perk was the chance to attend MTV Music Awards events across the
globe, which allowed her to indulge her love of music.

Colleagues credit Rormark with a very focused and positive attitude.
This trait comes to the fore when she shrugs off the growing strains on
the UK TV market, not least in the area of regulation. 'It is something
we have to work with, but it certainly isn't an excuse not to be
innovative or creative,' she says.

Rormark believes that 'great content' is the key to the Discovery brand
and that its commissioning strategy, incorporating many UK shows, will
pay off.

Looking ahead, more innovative marketing campaigns are on the agenda for
the broadcaster, which is also looking to increase its digital
investment. Less than 12 months into the job, observers say Rormark has
already made significant progress in distinguishing the Discovery brands
in a crowded market. She has also boosted the broadcaster's marketing
team and earlier this month appointed former Sky+ head of marketing and
product development Paul Wilson to lead its consumer marketing
strategies.

Rormark has a tough brief compared with Discovery's more deep-pocketed
rivals, but appears to be relishing the challenge. 'What the audience
really wants to know about is the shows,' she says. 'We have to put our
brand out there as much as we can, but it's all about great content -
and we have plenty of that.'

CAREER HISTORY

1997-2004: Vice-president of marketing and consumer products, MTV
Networks

2005-2006: Marketing consultant, National Geographic and Fleming Media
UK

2007-present: Senior vice-president, marketing, Discovery Networks UK.