Nickelodeon appoints commercial boss

by Media Week, Media Week 12-Feb-08

Viacom-owned children's broadcaster Nickelodeon UK has appointed Kiaran Saunders as its new vice-president, commercial director.

He joins from his role as corporate development manager at Channel 4,
which he left last month, and replaces David Jenkins, who has gone back
to the production sector.

During a six-year career at C4, Saunders played a significant role in

the broadcaster's acquisition of a 50% stake in music TV broadcaster Box

Television from Emap.

In his new role at Nickelodeon, he will be responsible for advertising
sales, channel distribution agreements and overseeing Nickelodeon's
moves into digital media platforms.

Saunders said: "I am looking at expanding revenues with a new digital
strategy and taking content into new areas. We are using new
cross-platform properties such as iCarly to reach out to viewers."

It remains unclear how C4 will replace Saunders, although a C4 spokesman
said some "minor chan-ges" were expected in the new team.