| |||
As General Manager, Balmont will continue to extend VIMN’s reach and portfolio of popular brands and properties, with ultimate oversight of local activities across all lines of business and creative including programming, production, creative, digital media, advertising and programme sales, distribution, talent and music and consumer products. Reporting to Lynn and working in close collaboration with VIMN UK’s HQ team based in London, Balmont will continue to bolster the company’s profile, grow distribution and brand awareness, and foster relationships with major local partners such as ProfMedia. “Russia is a top priority for VIMN with excellent momentum already building across the business including milestone successes in 2012 with the launch of Paramount Comedy and Nickelodeon’s increased distribution to more than 6m households,” commented Lynn. “Elena’s expert insight and relationships within the Russian market, coupled with her tremendous track record will be instrumental in driving VIMN’s next phase of growth and expansion.” “It’s a great time to join Viacom International Media Networks, home to some of the world’s biggest brands and best-loved properties that are really resonating with local Russian audiences,” added Balmont. “I have inherited a talented team at a time of real opportunity and I’m looking forward to guiding them forward as we look to take the business to the next level.” Balmont joins VIMN from Content Union LLC where she was Deputy CEO. Whilst there, she was responsible for new business development, ad sales and sponsorship growth and the rebranding of two key channels. She also oversaw marketing, programming, scheduling and content acquisitions. Prior to this, Elena spent twelve years at Russia TV Network CTC Media (NASDAQ: CTCM) in various positions. Elena Balmont graduated from Russian State University for the Humanities with a degree in Information Security and holds an Executive MBA from the University of Antwerp. Over the last two years, VIMN has deepened its connection and its leadership with Russian audiences on all levels and across all platforms. Nickelodeon – a 24-hour Russian language children’s service and home to iconic animation, SpongeBob SquarePants – has increased its distribution by 60% in the last year to 6.45m hhs, won ‘Best International Kids’ Channel 2011’ (Foreign TV category) at industry conference CSTB, and is now the number one most watched thematic channel in Russia on cable and satellite across all demographics and genres. The channel is now preparing for the launch of highly anticipated and reinvigorated animation, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, widely regarded as one of the most popular children’s television series of the 1980s. Since launching on 1st April 2012, Paramount Comedy has firmly cemented itself as the market’s premiere comedy destination. The 24-hour, fully-localised and ad-supported premium comedy channel broadcasts a high-quality mix of local and international comedy daily from its local Moscow base reaching more than 5.2m hhs. Supplementing home-grown hit shows such as South Park, global acquisitions include top rating US series, Two and a Half Men featuring Ashton Kutcher and The Big Bang Theory 3, while local original production, Chromosapiens, a short-form animation created by Hollywood-based and globally renowned Russian director/producer, Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted; Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) is set to debut this winter. |
