Discovery Installs Chief Commercial Officer

SILVER SPRING: Discovery Communications has tapped Paul Guyardo as chief commercial officer, a newly created position, effective October 5.

Guyardo will oversee U.S. ad sales, digital media, licensing and consumer products, consumer insights and data analytics. He will report to Discovery Communications' president and CEO, David Zaslav, and be based at the New York headquarters.

Guyardo served as executive VP, chief revenue and marketing officer at DIRECTV, where he was responsible for all functions that drove the company’s $26 billion in annual U.S. revenue. His responsibilities included all sales and distribution channels, marketing, advertising, pricing and packaging, traditional ad sales and new addressable and digital ad platforms, directv.com, sports, premium channels and on-demand businesses, customer retention, product management, consumer research, business analytics, public relations and creative services. 

“Amid a rapidly evolving industry and shifting audience behavior, Discovery has maintained a steady, long-term growth strategy of investing in quality content, launching new networks and products and diversifying our IP mix to strengthen our brands and offerings,” said Zaslav. “Our go-forward success in a random-access world depends on how well we innovate and monetize our content and brands across platforms. Paul brings a track record of results in growing businesses and creating consumer-centric strategies to launch products, create new revenue streams and engage viewers. Adding him to the management team is a major win for Discovery, our business partners and our audiences, and I look forward to his leadership in creating new ways to drive value for our businesses across platforms now and into the future.”

“Discovery Communications has tremendous content and brands, passionate consumers and a world-class leadership team that I’m honored to join,” added Guyardo. “The potential for continued growth is enormous and I look forward to getting started.”

Meanwhile, Bruce Campbell has been named chief development, distribution and legal officer, reflective of his expanded role that includes oversight of the company’s domestic distribution business and the Discovery Education division. Bill Goodwyn, the CEO of domestic content distribution and president and CEO of Discovery Education, will report to Campbell.

“Discovery’s brands are among the most widely distributed and highly valued in the world, and it is now more important than ever to innovate the ways in which we partner, distribute and position our company for growth,” said Zaslav. “Bruce has been my valued partner for many years, and has overseen the most significant business deals in our 30-year history. His strong and steady management style and thoughtful approach to Discovery’s future, coupled with his extensive experience working across our distribution renewals and education acquisitions, make him the right executive to oversee these additional parts of our business, and I look forward to his continued leadership in this expanded role.”