PlayNetwork Expands Senior Management Team
PlayNetwork, a leader in providing integrated media experiences, today announced the expansion of its senior management team, adding industry veterans Brian Hirsh as Senior Vice President of Marketing, Licensing and New Media, and Walt Tatum as Senior Vice President of North American Sales. Each brings extensive experience in creative media for the business industry, enhancing PlayNetwork’s core teams and complimenting the company’s overall growth strategy for the future.
Hirsh, the former president of Retail Entertainment Design, an entertainment marketing agency, spent the past five years concentrating on in-store media, out of home advertising, brand development and digital signage. He oversaw marketing, media relations, licensing, finance, and drove the strategic direction for the company. Prior to that, Hirsh was the director of national sales at DMX Music, a provider of media, music and entertainment for retail and hospitality brands. Hirsh has spoken at many industry events such as Digital Hollywood’s Advertising 2.0, Out-Of-Home Digital Media Content Strategies and Brand Activation Strategies events and is also a member of the Digital Signage Expo Advisory Board.
“PlayNetwork has been expanding as an industry leader over the last few years; growth I witnessed from the sidelines while working for its competitor. I’m now very excited to be a part of PlayNetwork as it continues to grow and becomes a leader in the industry,” said Hirsh. “PlayNetwork is comprised of creative people with great ideas, and with the current acquisition of Channel M, the team is truly best in class within our industry. I have the utmost confidence that PlayNetwork is now in position to capitalize on its stable of energetic and ambitious employees and potential.”
Tatum was promoted to Senior Vice President of North American Sales after joining PlayNetwork in May 2009 as its regional sales director. Tatum will now oversee all direct, VAR (Value Added Reseller) and local sales channels within North America. Before joining PlayNetwork, Tatum was the Vice President and General Manager of sales at DMX Music, where he spent eight years, two of those years overlapping the time Hirsh spent at DMX Music. Prior to that, Tatum was the CEO of XTreme Motorsports International.
“The key to creating a strong team is to recruit the best players available. Brian and Walt represent two of the best for PlayNetwork,” said Lon Troxel, CEO of PlayNetwork. “The industry expertise and experience they will provide PlayNetwork will be invaluable as we continue to grow and strive to be the leader within our industry. I know both men on a personal and professional level and it gives me great pleasure to have them join the leadership team. I know PlayNetwork can expect great things from them.”
