MTV Networks International Ups Mark Levine & Pooja Midha

MTV Networks International has promoted Mark Levine to svp, Nickelodeon marketing & communications, in an expanded role to drive Nickelodeon's continued business growth and kids'-first brand proposition around the world. Pooja Midha also has been promoted to vp, marketing, reporting to Levine.

Levine and his team will be responsible for marketing and communications strategies to support Nickelodeon's local operations in Asia, Europe and Latin America, as well as pan-European and global initiatives for all aspects of the business, including ad sales, promotions, consumer products, creative, digital media, program sales and Nickelodeon movies. The group also spearheads cohesive management of Nickelodeon's key global programming properties across business units, including Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants and Avatar.

Nickelodeon, including its consumer products business, has been the fastest growing unit of MTV Networks over the past year. It became the most widely distributed kids' network in Europe and globally, reaching more than 205 million households.

"Nickelodeon has built incredible momentum globally over the last 12 months, and Mark's and Pooja's roles are critical to maximizing the strength of our brand and key programming properties globally," said Glenna Patton, svp, marketing & communications, MTV Networks International. "Having established his team one year ago, Mark has delivered strategic and commercial value to all of Nickelodeon's businesses, and will build on his tremendous relationships with our local operations around the world to help drive our next phase of growth."

"As we develop our global partnerships with existing Nick US clients and seek out new global initiatives, the role of the International marketing department continues to expand," added Pam Kaufman, evp, worldwide marketing partnerships, Nickelodeon, to whom Levine reports. "These promotions reflect the success this group has had to date, and sets us up for future growth worldwide."

New York-based Levine will focus on driving value to the Nick international businesses through close partnership with Nickelodeon US and Nick channels, as well as business divisions to ensure that all opportunities are optimized. Specifically the team will focus on supporting Viacom Brand Solutions as it rolls out commercial partnerships, and build on existing partnerships with Paramount Pictures International, to pan-regional clients across Europe, and globally. Other priorities will be driving strategic communications around the continued growth and development of the company's digital media businesses, as well as Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products (N&VCP), with new properties, such as Avatar, joining the stable of Nick's existing hit franchises.

New York-based Midha will drive the strategy and execution of marketing programs in support of revenue driving divisions of Nick's international business, including channel marketing support, Viacom Brand Solution support, International Program Sales support and key property development in partnership with N&VCP. She will also drive centrally run initiatives, such as global promotions and marketing initiatives, working closely with local channels.

Levine joined Nickelodeon in 1997 as press and marketing manager at Nickelodeon Australia, where he was instrumental in growing the Nick brand at the two-year-old channel. Levine moved to New York in 1999 as manager of communications for MTVNI to direct international press support for MTV, VH1 and Nickelodeon. In 2001, Levine was promoted to director of marketing and communication and vp in 2004, taking on the additional responsibility of trade marketing support for MTVNI global ad-sales. Levine has developed marketing campaigns for such clients as Motorola and Procter and Gamble.

Originally from Canada, Midha joined Nickelodeon in 2002 as director of promotions and sales marketing where she was responsible for creating and extending client promotions, commercial marketing partnerships and developing ad sales packaging and marketing materials. She was promoted to senior director in 2004, adding online promotions marketing to her remit. Prior to joining Nickelodeon, Midha was group head of international ad sales at Dow Jones and Co. in New York.

Nickelodeon is the most widely distributed kids' network in the world and the only multimedia entertainment brand dedicated exclusively to them. First launched in the U.S. in 1979, Nickelodeon today consists of 34 channels, 20 branded program blocks, seven mobile TV channels, 32 websites and TurboNick, Nickelodeon's broadband video service in Australia, the U.S. and U.K. Nickelodeon's portfolio of international businesses also includes program syndication, digital media, Nick Movies, recreation, publishing, and global licensing and merchandising of consumer products featuring Nickelodeon's program franchises Dora the Explore and SpongeBob SquarePants. Nick & Viacom Consumer Products is the third largest licensing business in the world and the largest licensing business based on TV-first properties.

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom, is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with 133 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 150 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.