Marketing Guru Bill Brand Promoted To HSN President

Our buddy Bill Brand, an HSN honcho, got a big promotion Tuesday. Hope Mindy is giving you a big raise, friend.

Brand, 48, was named president of the home shopping channel HSN, effective immediately. Brand will also keep his post as chief marketing officer of HSN Inc., the parent of the TV network and the Cornerstone unit.

Brand, who is also an executive officer of the company, will continue to report directly to HSNi CEO Mindy Grossman.

Mindy Grossman, you-know-who and Bill Brand

“Eight years ago, Bill was the first person I hired to join the HSN team and has been one of my key partners in transforming HSN into the full network of experiences that it is today,” Grossman said in a canned statement.

“As we continue to innovate, collaborate and leverage the power of technology to create a compelling experience for consumers, Bill’s leadership, talent and unbridled passion will help ensure HSN remains the leading experiential retailer.”

Brand, a veteran of Lifetime Television and VH1, created an integration strategy at HSN that “has resulted in unique partnerships with major film studios, the production of world-class events, the launch of global brands and innovative content across all our platforms,” the network said in a press release.

“Recent partnerships such as Univision, AOL, Disney and Toyota as well as new marketing and CRM capabilities have all contributed to HSN’s highest customer file growth, now exceeding 5 million active customers,” the statement said.

In his new role as president, Brand will look to forge new strategies for the growth of HSN as well as continue to position HSNi as a leader in the retail industry.

He will assume responsibility of merchandising, programming, planning and HSN2 in addition to his current responsibilities.

“HSN is uniquely positioned to transform the retail industry by creating new ways for consumers to experience and interact with their favorite brands through content and commerce across all platforms,” Brand said.

“I am extremely gratified to lead a world-class team at HSN and continue to work with Mindy Grossman and our exceptional partners to develop inspiring events for our loyal television, online, social and mobile customers.”

Brand joined HSN in 2006 as senior vice president of Programming. He has continually taken on increased areas of responsibility, adding marketing and new business development followed by TV operations, creative and digital. In 2013, Brand was promoted to chief marketing and business development officer of HSNi.

Prior to joining HSN, Brand spent more than 10 years holding senior executive positions in programming with Lifetime and VH1, contributing to rapid growth and development of both entertainment networks.

He spent the first decade of his career in news management at regional television stations nationwide and has received numerous awards for his work in journalism.