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’s Media Giant

An Interview with Philip I. Kent, Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

EDITORS’ NOTE Philip Kent was Eastern Europe, the , and While your time is pulled in many dif- named to his current role in February Africa. We’re bullish on India, where ferent directions, you devote a great deal of 2003. From August 2000 to August we’ve been investing for more than 20 your energy and resources to organizations 2001, he served as President and Chief years. And recently, we acquired a me- in Atlanta. How critical is this work to you Operating Offi cer of CNN Group. dia business in the Nordic region and and was the notion of giving back instilled Kent’s career at TBS, Inc. also includes continue to build our presence in , in you early on? broad international experience as most recently with the acquisition of I consider involvement in and service to President of Turner Broadcasting two more entertainment networks. the Atlanta community part of my job for a num- System International (TBSI). Before Turner Broadcasting System ber of reasons: our company’s longevity here, this, he was President of Turner Home places a major emphasis on di- the size and scope of our employee base Entertainment. Kent joined Turner in versity and inclusion. How im- and working in Atlanta, and the unique nature March 1993, following six years with portant is this to the culture of the of our business. I enjoy being part of the lo- Creative Artists Agency (CAA) as a Philip I. Kent company and would you highlight cal business community and working with the packaging agent in that company’s your efforts in this regard? city and our philanthropic partners as a Turner department. In 1981, he helped launch Our company’s efforts in the area of di- representative. And I’m interested in the organi- Blair Entertainment, the television syndication divi- versity and inclusion have earned us attention zations I choose to serve. My priority is Turner sion of John Blair & Co., where he began his career. as an innovator, which is gratifying but not the Broadcasting, but I recognize and appreciate He earned a bachelor of arts degree in economics point. For companies expecting to compete and that our employees enjoy a sense of pride and at Lehigh University. In 2007, he was inducted into succeed in a fundamentally changing world, loyalty because they work for a company that the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame. embracing diversity as an action, as opposed to supports and invests in its local communities. an idea, is a matter of business survival. You joined Turner in 1993. Could you COMPANY BRIEF A Time Warner company, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has been have imagined then that you would spend Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.; very direct in addressing Atlanta’s chal- so much of your career with the company? www.turner.com) creates and programs branded lenges and positioning the city for future I don’t think any of us imagined how news, entertainment, animation, and young growth. Are you happy with the public/pri- Turner Broadcasting would grow and what it adult media environments on television and vate partnership in Atlanta? would become. What started as a single Atlanta other platforms for consumers around the world. Mayor Reed and the business community UHF station is today the company responsible Based in Atlanta, , TBS, Inc. employs some have a common interest in the continued health for the fi rst national network, 11,000 people worldwide. TBS, Inc.’s ground- and well-being of Atlanta. We share a vision in the Superstation, and the fi rst 24-hour news net- breaking network is CNN, but the company is also which the interests of business, the arts, educa- work, CNN; ad-supported cable’s number-one home to entertainment networks such as TBS, tion, and government advance and enhance one network with young adults, , and TNT, , , another, where the public and private sectors most-watched original series of all time, The Adult Swim, and truTV. view one another’s agendas as mutually inclu- Closer on TNT; the number-one current events sive, and where collaboration and partnership and destination on the Web, CNN. Would you provide an overview of Turner are the rule, not the exception. Atlanta has mo- com; thriving networks and digital businesses Broadcasting System and the leading net- mentum, energy, resources, and no shortage of across Latin America, Europe, and Asia-Pacifi c; works that are part of the organization? people in government and in business who are and is an industry leader in developing and im- Turner operates more than 130 branded chan- committed to ensuring that our vision is a reality. plementing innovative technology for consumer nels in 30 languages in more than 200 countries. Would you highlight some of your and business use. The company’s brands and businesses include work as a leader in CSR in Atlanta? What are your priorities for Turner CNN/U.S., HLN, CNN International, CNN.com; Atlanta is Turner Broadcasting’s hometown Broadcasting System as you look to the future? TBS, TNT, Turner Classic Movies, truTV, Turner and its corporate headquarters for all of its 41 We are focused on serving the interests of Sports, Cartoon Network, and Adult Swim. years. We feel a responsibility to the communi- consumers around the world and being good Turner Broadcasting System is a truly ties in which we operate and to the consum- partners to our advertisers and distributors; on global brand. Would you highlight the key ers responsible for our success. Our corporate creating sustained value for our shareholders; markets for the networks and where you giving includes grants, in-kind support, board on offering quality content, from our signature see the greatest opportunities for growth? service, and wide-ranging community involve- news programming to our online sports sites; Turner has a global footprint and two truly ment. I am most proud of our annual day of on fostering a professional environment in global brands – CNN and Cartoon Network. hands-on service in Turner cities around the which creative, motivated people can do their Our company is the number one multichan- world. We mobilize literally thousands of Turner best work; on being a good neighbor in and to nel network provider in Latin America, and we volunteers to do everything from painting and our communities; and on furthering and cele- continue to grow our profi le and revenue there, planting to tutoring kids and visiting with el- brating the spirit of audacity and possibility that particularly in Brazil and Mexico. We see growth derly people. It’s some of the best and more our company was built on, and that informs our opportunity for our brands in Central and important work we do all year. course going forward.• 80 LEADERS VOLUME 34, NUMBER 3