MONTRÉAL and TORONTO, July 4, 2013 – Kevin Crull, President, Bell Media, announced today the appointment of Astral executive Luc Sabbatini to President, Bell Media Sales. Upon tomorrow’s close of the Astral-Bell Media transaction, Sabbatini will oversee an integrated sales team in French and English, representing the new company’s diverse sales options. Rita Fabian, currently Executive Vice-President, Advertising Sales for Bell Media, will depart the company.
“This is a new era for Bell Media Sales,” said Crull. “Luc’s experience in TV, radio, OOH, and digital is perfectly suited to serve our clients with an extensive array of products with complete national coverage.”
As President, Bell Media Sales, Sabbatini will oversee all national conventional and specialty TV, national radio, out-of-home, digital, and multi-platform (Mix) advertising sales, as well as brand partnerships/media creativity. He will be based in both Montréal and Toronto.
Bell Media also introduced today Bell Media Mix – a unique and creative one-stop advertising opportunity representing all of Bell Media’s brands and platforms. From TV and radio to OOH and digital, Mix delivers unique and effective integrated campaigns for advertisers in French and English.
Regarding Rita Fabian, Crull said, “Rita is one of the advertising industry’s most-respected executives. She has led a team that has become the industry leader, delivering tremendous results in often very challenging times. All of us at Bell Media are very appreciative of her talent and contribution, and wish her the very best.”
Fabian will remain with the company through early October, helping to guide the Bell Media sales team through the integration process as it becomes a multi-platform sales force.
Luc Sabbatini joined Astral in 2000 and was appointed President of Astral Out-of-Home in 2007. Prior to that, he held different positions in the company, including Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of Astral Radio and Astral Out-of-Home, Executive Vice-President of Astral Radio, and Vice-President Sales and Marketing of Astral Radio. Before joining Astral, Sabbatini worked in television at Groupe TVA, and has been very involved in the communications industry over the years as a member of the boards of BBM (Bureau of Broadcast Measurement), CAB (Canadian Association of Broadcasters), COMB (Canadian Outdoor Measurement Bureau), BCRQ (Bureau de commercialization de la radio du Québec), OMAC (Out-of-Home Marketing Association of Canada) and RMB (Radio Marketing Bureau).
Rita Fabian has been with Bell Media since 1986, where she has held various advertising and marketing management positions. As Executive Vice-President, Advertising Sales, Fabian has been responsible for Bell Media’s leading TV and digital advertising sales and marketing initiatives.
About Bell Media
With passion and an unrelenting commitment to excellence, Bell Media creates content and builds brands that entertain, inform, engage, and inspire audiences through the platforms of their choice. Bell Media is Canada’s premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, out-of-home advertising, and digital media. Bell Media will own 30 local television stations led by CTV, Canada’s #1 television network; 34 specialty channels, including TSN and RDS, Canada’s most-watched specialty channels in English and French; four pay TV services, including The Movie Network and Super Écran; and will be managing shareholder of premium pay-per-view service Viewer’s Choice Canada. Bell Media will also be Canada’s largest radio broadcaster, with 107 licensed radio stations in 50 markets across Canada. Bell Media will own Astral Out-of-Home, one of Canada’s most dynamic and innovative out-of-home advertising companies. Bell Media will also operate more than 200 websites, deliver TV Everywhere with its innovative GO video streaming services, including TMN GO and Bravo GO, and own Dome Productions Inc., a multi-platform production company. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company.
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