Alison Levin Leaves Roku to Become President of Advertising at NBCUniversal, Karen Kovacs Promoted to President of Client Partnerships

Hiring of Levin and promotion of Kovacs result from NBCU's shift towards a streaming-centric approach and strategy reshuffle following the departure of senior executives; Both will report to Mark Marshall, global chairman of advertising and partnerships.

• Alison Levin, a veteran of Roku, has been named president of advertising and partnerships at NBCUniversal. She will oversee all advertising sales across national, local, Peacock, sports and Olympic and Paralympic Games sales as NBCUniversal refocuses on a streaming-centric approach.
• Karen Kovacs has been promoted to president of client partnerships at NBCU. She will lead new and emerging client relationships, alongside continuing to cultivate enterprise partnerships.
• Both Levin and Kovacs will report to Mark Marshall, who now holds the position of advertising and partnerships global chairman at NBCUniversal following the departure of the previous ad chief, Linda Yaccarino.
• Levin's hiring and Kovacs' promotion come amid strategic reshuffles at NBCUniversal, necessitated by a declining traditional TV market and the rise of the more lucrative streaming ad market.
• Levin, who was Roku’s first major ad sales hire, has been recognized for her innovative leadership in the Connected TV and digital ad space. Before working at Roku, she held sales positions at various firms including YuMe, IAC and BusinessWeek.

3 Articles

The Hollywood Reporter TheWrap Variety