Disney/ABC Television Group hired Karin Gilford, who previously oversaw Comcast's Comcast.net and Fancast.com portals, as senior vice president of digital media for ABC.
Gilford, based in Burbank, Calif., reports to Albert Cheng, executive vice president of digital media for Disney/ABC Television Group. She will be responsible for ABC's digital media initiatives including ABC.com as well as the network's digital efforts on mobile platforms and interactive TV technologies.
"I am very pleased to have Karin join our digital media senior management team," Cheng said in a statement. "She is an outstanding leader, accomplished strategist and a great fit for ABC. Her extensive experience and strong record of across-the-board creativity and achievement made her an excellent choice for this important role at Disney/ABC as we continue to lead the industry in our efforts to extend our quality brands and sought-after content to audiences on new platforms and new markets."
At Comcast, Gilford was senior vice president of online media at Comcast Interactive Media, where she was involved in the operator's initial launch of authenticated online content.
Before joining Comcast in July 2008, Gilford spent eight years with Yahoo in several roles, including vice president and general manager of Yahoo Entertainment where she led all programming, content and business strategy for the company's entertainment consumer websites. She also previously held positions in business development and finance at Paramount Pictures International Television and Ernst & Young.
