USA Today names A+E Networks exec Kate Gutman head of content ventures division
The USA Today Network today (July 16) named Kate Gutman head of content ventures, effective immediately.
Kate Gutman of A+E Networks has joined The USA Today Networks as its head of the content ventures division. / USA Today Networks
This new role has Gutman overseeing the growth of the company’s content brands and experiences that extend the portfolio beyond USA Today and 109 local news brands. She also has oversight of the portfolio of the publisher’s niche brands such as Grateful, Reviewed.com and HumanKind.
Gutman previously served as vice president of strategy and digital media at A+E Networks International, where her responsibilities included growing the company’s digital revenue and leading A+E’s transition from a linear television company to a multi-platform entertainment brand.
During her tenure at A+E, she grew the company’s content distribution business and built relationships with over 30 different digital platforms. She also launched new digital products and services leveraging the A&E, History and Lifetime channels and content libraries.
This isn’t Gutman’s first foray into the print publisher space — she had previously led the digital business for Reader’s Digest International, working with local market leaders to deliver revenue and profit goals for websites, digital marketing and e-commerce businesses. She also held senior digital and business strategy roles at Rodale, Bertelsmann and Lagardere Group.
Gutman works under Maribel Perez Wadsworth, the recently-promoted president of the USA Today Network. Wadsworth said in a statement: “With her deep passion for innovation, Kate embodies the culture and vision of the USA Today Network. “She is a forward-thinker with a keen ability to recognize opportunities in today’s media environment and we are excited about the future of our portfolio under her leadership.”
This has been the first key announcement from USA Today since promoting Wadsworth to replace John Zidich as publisher of the daily national paper. Zidich, who had been with the newspaper for over 40 years, set his retirement date for this coming November.