MICHAEL BENSON

Executive Vice President, Marketing, Advertising and Promotion, ABC Entertainment

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Mike Benson was named executive vice president, Marketing, for ABC Entertainment, in February 2007. In this position he oversees, along with Marla Provencio, all marketing activities for ABC’s Primetime and Late-Night lineup, while also establishing the on-air tone and brand for ABC Entertainment. His duties include strategic planning, creative development and implementation of all on-air and off-air marketing, advertising and promotional campaigns for scripted and reality series, alternative programming, movies and specials. He began his employment at ABC Entertainment as senior vice president, Advertising and Promotion, in June 1998.

In addition to being responsible for the launch of ABC’s “Desperate Housewives,” “Lost,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” among other ABC Primetime and Late-Night programming, Mr. Benson and Ms. Provencio created Hispanic targeted campaigns for the hit series “Desperate Housewives” and most watched new comedy of the seaon, “Ugly Betty.” Both series’ premieres ranked as the No. 1 show of the evening and time period among all Hispanic viewers watching English language television, and Mr. Benson and Ms. Provencio recently were named one of the top Hispanic marketers of the year from AdWeek’s Marketing y Medios Magazine.

For his creative endeavors on behalf of ABC, Mr. Benson was named an Entertainment Marketer of the Year in 2005 by Ad Age and, in 2000, by BrandWeek magazine. He was also recipient of the Promax Brand Builder Award in 2004.

Mr. Benson joined ABC from VH1/MTV Networks, where he’d been senior vice president, Promotion & Program Planning, since January 1996. He was instrumental in redefining the network’s position as a cable music channel, creating a new brand position for the channel through on-air promotion and the launch of significant original programming. He programmed and launched the series “Behind the Music,” “Pop Up Video,” “Legends,” “Stortyellers” and “The Rock & Roll Picture Show.” His work helped to reinvent music on television for an adult audience and contributed to significant ratings gains for the cable network.

Prior Mr. Benson served as director of communications for KCBS-TV in Los Angeles, as well as held various positions at WCCO-TV, the CBS owned and operated affiliate in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Mr. Benson currently serves as chairman on the Promax/BDA Board of Directors. He is an adjunct professor for Boston University, teaching entertainment marketing though a program in Los Angeles. The father of two, he resides in Los Angeles.