SVP, Brand and Network Sales

About TEGNA

TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) helps people thrive in their local communities by providing the trusted local news and services that matter most. With 64 television stations in 51 U.S. markets, TEGNA reaches more than 100 million people monthly across the web, mobile apps, streaming, and linear television. Together, we are building a sustainable future for local news.

 

TEGNA is building a forward-thinking Sales leadership team to drive innovation and excellence across our company.  As part of this effort, we are hiring a Senior Vice President of Brand & Network Sales to deliver TEGNA’s audiences and solutions across all platforms (TV, Streaming, and Digital) to leading brands and Agencies purchasing audiences across Network media. 

Reporting to the Chief Revenue Officer, the SVP Brand & Network Sales is expected to unlock dollars from this incremental source of demand, complimenting the inherent advertiser opportunity in our 51 local markets, and transforming the company’s revenue mix and “future proofing” the health of our business. 

What this job is: a hands-on, highly visible sales leadership position that requires extensive face-to-face activity with clients and prospects.    

What this job is not: a “manage from the Tower” leadership position, this role leads from the front.   

Finally, this role will lead a team that serve our clients with behaviors which align to TEGNA’s Core Values, which are: 

We Win:  Our clients achieve desired results, and we hit our revenue targets  

We Work Smarter:  We use AI to perform more “commodity-like” work which gives us more time to provide value-added solutions to our clients  

We Demand the Truth:  We provide client solutions using data-supported recommendations, transparency, and attribution 

We Do the Right Thing: Self-explanatory.  We do this with clients and one another.   

Core Responsibilities  

• Forge new partnerships directly with CMOs and brand leaders to develop custom, large-scale media partnerships that go beyond traditional ad buys 
• Design and execute a creative "marketing-first" approach to sales, building unique, cross-platform media buys that leverage TEGNA’s full suite of TV, streaming, and digital assets. This includes creating sponsored programming and unique content integrations 
• Actively explore and build relationships with large digital agencies (or digital arms of Hold Co’s) to drive direct deals for TEGNA's programmatic and CTV inventory, expanding revenue from new sources 
• Develop and lead a third-party monetization strategy to partner with external companies that can help sell and optimize TEGNA's inventory 
• Lead deal-making from the front, personally sourcing and closing complex, high-value partnerships without relying on the existing local sales forces. This role is about creating new business, not managing the current pipeline. 

Qualifications 

• Minimum 15 years of direct sales and sales leadership experience with a demonstrable history of creating and closing multi-platform, strategic, and creative partnerships with major brands and agencies 
• Proven ability to "think bigger" than traditional ad sales, with a history of developing new, high-value revenue streams, such as sponsored content, branded entertainment, or unique programmatic solutions 
• Extensive knowledge and a strong rolodex of connections at the CMO level, as well as with key decision-makers at leading digital and media agencies 
• Experience in complex deal negotiation with an emphasis on creating win-win scenarios that provide brand value beyond traditional ad placements 
• Must be a self-starter and hands-on dealmaker with the ability to build and execute a sales st