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Executive Suite
Christina Norman Steps Down at MTV
posted on Feb 8, 2008
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MTV president Christina Norman is stepping down from her post after
17 years at the company. In an internal MTV e-mail distributed Thursday
to MTV employees letting them know of Norman's decision, Van Toffler,
president of MTV Networks Music and Logo Group said Norman wanted "to
take time to explore something new" and
lauded her 17 year-career with MTV Networks. In 2005 Norman became the
first African-American woman to head up
the 95-million subscriber service.
Following is the full text of the message regarding Norman's departure:
"I
am writing to let you know that after 17 incredibly successful years,
several brilliant reinventions, multiple VMA's and scores of memorable
on-air promos and creative marketing campaigns, Christina Norman has
made the decision to leave MTV at the end of the month.
Christina's mark on our company is indelible and it's worth noting that
she reinvented herself and our businesses along the way. She grew from
a freelance production manager (yes, freelance) to lead all of the
marketing efforts for MTV, including the successful launch of MTV2. In
2002, she was tapped to architect VH1's rebirth, gave the world
"Celebreality" along with "Hip Hop Honors", and shepherded the network
to creative and ratings highs. She brought the same talent and vision
when she returned to MTV as President, reinventing our big franchise
events - The VMAs and The Movie Awards, ramping up new ways for us to
partner with advertisers and worked with all of you to create and
define the brand vision for MTV that inspired us and helped liberate
our thinking. It pains me to see Christina go, but I respect her
decision to want to take the time to explore something new after 17
years, which is pretty much impossible to even think about while
running the M.
Christina has led with incredible integrity, creativity, business
savvy, perspective, spirit and humor, and she has championed so many
important initiatives at our company and in our culture. From the
launch of "thinkMTV," to breathing new life into our music initiatives
with novel ideas like "52 Bands," to the historic launch of MTV Tr3s,
our network for young Hispanic-Americans, to the explosive growth of
mtvU and the inspirational work she has done for our company's
diversity and inclusion initiative, she has made it happen.
Christina is leaving MTV in its strongest, healthiest, most diverse and
vibrant incarnation -- MTV's celebrated 16 years as the #1 ad supported
cable network for the 12-24 demo, and last year alone MTV.com served up
almost one billion videos. And there is more to come in the pipeline
from the great team that we have in place.
In fact, Christina made it clear that MTV's current creative vibrancy
and thriving business provided her with the perfect timing to explore
something new. MTV has several TV hits cranking, the fastest selling
video game with "Rock Band," and a rapidly growing collection of
websites. We're positioned as an industry leader with an array of
verticals and Emmy Award winning virtual worlds, and we're shaking up
the 2008 elections with "Street Team '08." And may I remind you that
Christina does not shy away from challenges - after all, she dared to
take a bet to appear on national television with an eye patch, claiming
a run-in with an unwieldy mascara wand as the reason for her
questionable optical attire.
It has been my great honor to work with Christina and she will always
be part of the legend and success of our company. We will miss her and
I personally can't wait to see what incredible feat she will conquer
next with the same class and tenacity she has exemplified during her
many years here. I know you join me in wishing her the very best."
No replacement was named. Toffler will assume Norman's duties on an interim basis, an MTV
spokeswoman said.
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