Carat's Katie Coteman moves to Discovery

In her new role Coteman will be responsible for identifying and pursuing commercial partnership opportunities, both selling sponsorships and creating online and brand solutions with agencies and brands.

Coteman will report to Martin Heaton-Cooper, vice president commercial development UK and Ireland, Discovery Networks and work alongside Michael Holt, director, brand solutions, Discovery Networks UK.

Until starting at Discovery this week Coteman was associate director, communications planning at Aegis media agency Carat and was the strategic lead across a number of accounts including Disney, General Motors and Santander.

Coteman joined Carat in 2000, rising from sponsorship executive to sponsorship manager before becoming associate director, communications planning in 2006 and worked on projects such as Cadbury’s Boost’s sponsorship of 'Jackass'.

Coteman started her career at Breakthrough Breast Cancer in 1999 as a corporate development manager and corporate fundraiser.

Heaton-Cooper said: "2011 was a highly successful year for us, creating impactful and award winning brand solutions for our commercial partners, plus a UK media first in digitally placing product into content.

"Katie's significant media and agency experience will be invaluable in helping us continue to grow commercially in the year ahead."

Discovery Networks UK's ad sales account is managed by BSkyB's Sky Media but both Sky Media and Discovery's in-house team handle sponsorship sales.

Coteman said: "Discovery is such a vibrant business with strong brands and great heritage. I am looking forward to building on the success the team has achieved and to pursue new commercial and partnership opportunities for the channel portfolio."

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This article was first published on mediaweek.co.uk