The position will encompass leveraging the all-digital, high definition studio the company designed and moved into a year ago, as well as managing the cross marketing and use of that programming across media platforms.
“As our success in markets around the world demonstrates, the content we create is enormously popular,” Playboy Vice President James Griffiths said. With the growth in TV and online as well as new wireless media, it is our goal to create products that we can leverage to reach an even larger audience.”
The company also said that James English will become a senior consultant to the company focusing on TV and online programming. English had executive vice president and president of Playboy Entertainment Group.
“Under Jim’s tenure the company went from Playboy TV to the 16 networks that have put us in the leading position in the popular adult entertainment category,” Griffiths said. “This move will allow Jim to return to what he loves most, programming and channel creation, making full use of his experience and creative energy.”
Playboy said last month it expects to see continuing growth in revenue and operating income across all of its businesses for the next year.
The company made the announcement as it released its first-quarter results, where it saw its net income nearly triple on revenue growth.
Its entertainment segment, including domestic and international TV networks, had a rise in revenue of 6.8 percent to $35.5 million.
Chicago-based Playboy Enterprises publishes editions of Playboy magazine around the world, owns Playboy.com and operates the Playboy and Spice television networks, and licenses brands worldwide. It recently signed a licensing deal for video game “Playboy: The Mansion,” which will be available in the Xbox and PlayStation 2 formats in December.
