OWN Names SVP of Marketing

NEW YORK: Maurizio Vitale has been named senior VP of marketing for OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, which launches January 1, 2011.

He will be responsible for all on-air and off-air marketing and promotional opportunities for the network, as well as the brand position and identity. Vitale joins from Discovery Networks EMEA, where he was most recently the senior VP of marketing communications. He will join OWN after a transition from Discovery Europe.

Vitale will report to Christina Norman, the CEO of OWN. “Maurizio has done a phenomenal job for the Discovery Networks internationally, providing creative messaging and a fresh and relevant perspective,” said Norman. “I know he will be a strong member of my team, and look forward to tapping into his extensive knowledge as we launch OWN.”