HBO Boots Its Top Digital Team in LA; Consolidating in NYC
We got a tip about this earlier today, but was so vaguely worded we couldn’t figure it out…glad Variety could. HBO is closing its Los Angeles digital offices, and its digital head Jim Moloshok, business development VP John Penney, and EVP of new media programming Carmi Zlotnik are all leaving the company, reports Variety. Moloshok was brought in late 2005 to explore new broadband opportunities, but HBO never executed on it, despite grand pronouncements. Zlotnik had been with the company for 20 years and most recently headed online programming. Penney came to HBO in 2003 and oversaw strategic planning for new media.
It has an online comedy joint venture with AOL, called ThisJustIn, and then its mobile video ventures with AT&T…not sure what will happen to both of those. Also, not sure if the new HBO CEO Bill Nelson will replace any or all of the departing execs, though it seems the functions would be consolidated in NYC offices.
One good thing: three very senior digital executives just came on the strapped-for-senior-talent market.
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Comments (7)
Jun 19, 2007 2:53 AM
why would anyone hire moloshok? he failed at yahoo and then went on to fail at hbo, all the while being dramatically overpaid.
Jun 21, 2007 8:11 AM
can’t speak to the comment about moloshok, but john penney is a rock star in the space
Jun 22, 2007 10:03 AM
I worked with Moloshok at Yahoo and lee must never have worked with him.
Jun 25, 2007 1:00 AM
How can any media company be cutting back on digital? I worked with Moloshok at Yahoo where he basically jump-started their broadband efforts .. wonder where Lee comes off? Jealous of Moloshok’s stock options and that he does not have to work?
Jul 5, 2007 11:12 PM
At the end of the day, this division wouldn’t have been closed if they would have executed a new media strategy.
as for penney…he failed to drive results @ ATT and followed w/ lackluster results at HBO. Birds of a feather….
Jul 13, 2007 6:07 PM
Mark’s never worked with Penney. I did when we were at AT&T. (Company doesn’t like outsiders and he was embraced.) In fact, he designed an advertising business strategy for IPTV that the company has touted as a major opportunity for them in the Wall Street Journal.
Jul 13, 2007 6:14 PM
I have known John and Jim .... John at ATT and Jim at Yahoo. They are good people working in a tough company… I wish the rest of the team there was as easy to work and negotiate with and understood digital media as they do.