News from the Executive Suite: HBO and Uni

The predictions were correct and HBO promoted from within, announcing today that interim HBO CEO Bill Nelson as Chris Albrecht's replacement. Before Albrecht's departure, Nelson had been COO. He will take over Albrecht's title of chairman/CEO. In addition, TW has named three New York-based execs--general counsel Harold Akselrad, sales and marketing topper Eric Kessler and strategy guru Richard Plepler--as co-presidents, all reporting to Nelson.

"Bill Nelson is a superb executive with outstanding leadership skills, expertise and experience," Time Warner chairman and CEO Ricahrd Parsons said. "Today's appointments highlight the depth and strength of HBO's senior leadership. Each of these executives has been instrumental in HBO's success over the past 15 years. We're confident that, under their guidance, HBO's edge will get even sharper, fresher and more pronounced."

Per the NY Times:

Mr. Plepler is taking on the most significant new role as the executive in charge of HBO's programming, which has long been the key to its success. Mr. Plepler has risen from the top corporate communications officer in the company to become an executive vice president and its most visible executive in New York. Mr. Albrecht had been based mainly in Los Angeles.

Additionally, Michael Lombardo was named as executive vice president in charge of HBO's West Coast office, where he will run the channel's programming division.

Meanwhile, over at Universal, Ron Meyer has signed on for five more years as president and COO and will continue to oversee the film, parks and resorts, and studio operations. Per the NYT:

Mr. Meyer led the company's successful pitch to Warner Brothers and the author J. K. Rowling to license a theme park based on the "Harry Potter" juggernaut. Last week the two studios jointly announced a $230 million-plus deal for a 20-acre attraction at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Fla. It is expected to open in late 2009 and provide a significant lift to sagging attendance there, where Universal has long trailed Walt Disney World.

Universal's film division has faced some tough challenges in recent years but seems to be back on the upswing. In the past, I've had the pleasure of interviewing Meyer, who has worked in this capacity at Uni since 1995 and has survived three different corporate owners (Seagrams, Vivendi and GE). I once asked him how he viewed his job. Meyer, a former Marine and talent agent with a no-nonsense kind of charm, told me that he saw it as being the one to unlock the gates in the morning and turn off the lights at night. And he will continue to do so through 2012.

Nelson named HBO CEO [Variety]
HBO Names Four New Top Corporate Officers [New York Times]
Meyer reups at Universal [Variety]
NBC Universal Signs Head of Studio to a Five-Year Agreement [NYT]