FOX Television Stations, the broadcast TV arm of FOX Corp. led by CEO Jack Abernethy, is restructuring its Advertising Sales division by merging its local, national and digital sales efforts into one unit.
The move, the company says, is designed to “leverage the power” of FOX’s news content, live sports and digital/streaming platforms.
Now leading the ad sales arm of FOX Television Stations, reporting to Abernethy, is Patrick Paolini.
He takes the position of EVP of Ad Sales, as sales executives Sheila Bruce, Tom Fleming and Michael Page have each been elevated to new roles.
Bruce and Fleming have each been promoted to Senior Vice President of FOX Ad Sales for FTS, as Page is named Senior Vice President of Digital Sales for FTS — an expanded role that will now lead all FOX Digital Sales and OTT sales.
Speaking of Paolini, Abernethy shared, “Patrick’s unique ability to execute, developed from years in both news and sales, makes him ideally suited to lead the FTS sales organization. I am confident that this newly elevated dynamic team will move quickly and decisively given their depth of knowledge and proven track record, including the successful creation of FLX, our CTV/OTT ad platform.”
Paolini has served as SVP/General Manager of WTTG-5 and WDCA-20 in Washington, D.C., for a decade. Before that, Paolini was Senior Vice President of FOX Stations Sales. Earlier experience includes a stint as VP/GM of WTXF-29 in Philadelphia, and before that was VP/Director of Sales for flagship WNYW-5 and WWOR-9 in New York.
Before joining FOX Television Stations as VP/GSM of WTVT-13 in Tampa, Paolini was with LIN TV — first as National Sales Manager for WTNH-8 in New Haven, Conn., and later as General Sales Manager for WIVB-4 in Buffalo.
“I am excited to have Sheila, Tom and Michael join me as we transform FTS’s ad sales strategy during this pivotal time of growth,” Paolini said. “Each of them is a talented executive who challenges the status-quo and will continue to create and redefine solutions in this ever-evolving new advertising landscape. I can’t wait to get started.”
Bruce has been associated with FOX since 1994, when she joined WJBK-2 Detroit, rising from an Account Executive to Local Sales Manager. Since 2001, Bruce has served as Vice President and General Sales Manager for the station.
Fleming has been part of the FOX Stations Sales (FSS) team since its inception and in 2019 was named Senior Vice President of FSS. Earlier in his career, he served as an Account Executive and Team Sales Manager for Petry Television.
Page joined FTS as Vice President of Digital Sales in 2019 and was promoted to Senior Vice President in 2021. He’s also served as Vice President of Digital Sales for Tribune Media, and prior to that led TEGNA Digital in the $2.5 billion acquisition of Cars.com as Vice President of Digital Automotive. Prior to that, Page was the Head of Product Marketing for Amazon Media Group.
— With reporting by RBR+TVBR in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
