NEW YORK—Station group Hearst Television has hired Chris Plourde as vice president, strategy and distribution.
Plourde comes to Hearst after 20 years at Tegna, most recently as vice president, financial planning and analysis. He will report to John Robertson, senior vice president of strategy and distribution, assisting him in areas including strategic partnerships in distribution and technology, Hearst said.
“Finding a leader with Chris’s depth of experience is a rare and exceptional opportunity,” Hearst Television President Michael J. Hayes said. “His arrival further strengthens what is, without question, the finest strategy and distribution team in the local television business, and positions us to lead Hearst Television boldly into its next generation.”
While with Tegna, Plourde specialized in distribution strategy, corporate development, financial planning and complex commercial negotiations including the successful completion of many distribution agreements, Hearst said. His work has included constructing financial models supporting distribution revenue, negotiation strategy and new business ventures, according to the company. He has also led financial strategy and analysis supporting network affiliation negotiations and strategic partnerships, among other activities, Hearst said.
“Chris brings an extraordinarily distinctive and wide-ranging breadth of experience, and we are fortunate to welcome him to the team,” Robertson said. “His insight and perspective will be invaluable as we continue to build on our momentum and he will be instrumental in helping drive our relationships with networks and MVPDs, including our advanced advertising partnerships.”
A graduate of Northeastern University who earned his MBA at George Mason University, Plourde joined Tegna in 2006.
