NBCUniversal is shaking up its ad-sales ranks again, tapping top Turner Entertainment executive Linda Yaccarino to head cable advertising.
Yaccarino, who announced yesterday she would leave at the end of the year to pursue “new professional opportunities,” will replace NBCU cable ad chief Dave Cassaro, sources said.
The move marks the second ad-sales reorganization since cable giant Comcast agreed to acquire a majority stake in NBCU. Last year, Comcast put Cassaro, who had overseen Comcast’s networks like E! and Style, in charge of all of NBCU’s cable-ad sales, including USA and Bravo.
An e-mail confirming Cassaro’s departure went out to staff yesterday afternoon. NBCU and its chief, Steve Burke, declined to comment.
An 18-year veteran of Time Warner’s Turner division, Yaccarino rose through the ranks to lead ad sales and marketing for networks such as TBS and TNT.