Kent Rees To Lead Pivot As General Manager

LOS ANGELES (November 3, 2014) – Participant Media today announced that Kent Rees has been named general manager of Pivot, assuming overall responsibility for Participant’s television network dedicated to entertainment that illuminates issues, sparks conversation and inspires change. Kent reports directly to Participant Media CEO Jim Berk. Pivot President Evan Shapiro will be leaving to pursue other opportunities.

Rees was recently named one of Variety’s “New Leaders of Hollywood,” joining Participant Media in 2012 as Pivot’s executive vice president of marketing, scheduling and operations. As part of the founding team of executives who launched the network, he was responsible for creating and implementing the network’s marketing and branding strategies, as well as the day-to-day operations for the channel, which went live on cable, satellite and online in August of 2013.

Berk said about the announcement: “Pivot is a growing network with a strong pipeline of original content and has expanded carriage to over 47 million homes. During this time, Kent played an integral role in establishing the Pivot brand and managing overall channel operations. He and his management team are well positioned to further the network’s reach and impact. We thank Evan for helping to build Pivot into the successful network that it is today. We wish him the best.”

“I’m tremendously proud of what we’ve accomplished at Pivot since launching the network a little over a year ago,” said Kent Rees, general manager, Pivot. “We exist because of Jeff Skoll’s vision that a story well told can change the world, and bringing that to TV is a unique opportunity. As general manager, I want to continue the network’s momentum in demonstrating that what you watch does make a difference.”

Since its launch, Pivot has presented over 300 hours of original programming including the Emmy® Award-winning “HITRECORD ON TV,” critically acclaimed comedies “Please Like Me” and “Human Resources,” nightly news show “TakePart Live,” as well as recent launches “Welcome to Fairfax” and “Freestyle Love Supreme.” Pivot will premiere “Fortitude,” its first scripted drama, in January 2015.

Prior to Pivot, Rees held senior creative and marketing roles in television for some of the industry’s most respected independent brands. As executive vice president of marketing for Current TV, Rees led the creative and brand strategy along with the advertising, sales, and marketing teams. At IFC TV, Rees rose from creative director to senior vice president of marketing, overseeing the IFC brand across all platforms. He was the chief architect behind IFC’s “Always On. Slightly Off.” rebranding in 2010. Before joining IFC, Rees was involved with creating and producing on-air promotional launches for ABC and VH1.

Rees, who earned his BFA from New York University’s Tisch School for the Arts’ film and television production department, is a former member of the Board of Directors for Promax BDA, and is a frequent guest lecturer at universities including Temple University, New York University and Columbia.

About Pivot

Pivot (Pivot.tv) is a television network from Participant Media with a diverse slate of original series, acquired programming, films and documentaries. Pivot focuses on entertainment that sparks conversation, inspires change and illuminates issues through engaging content, and, through its websiteTakePart.com, connects audiences to a wealth of content and customizable actions. Pivot is available nationally via major cable providers and offers subscribers a live and on-demand streaming option via its interactive, downloadable Pivot app. Follow Pivot on Twitter at @pivot_tv and on Facebook at facebook.com/pivottelevision.

About Participant Media

Participant Media (http://www.ParticipantMedia.com) is a global entertainment company founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll to focus on feature film, television, publishing and digital content that inspires social change. Participant’s more than 60 films include Good Night, and Good Luck, Syriana, An Inconvenient Truth, Food, Inc., Waiting for ‘Superman’, The Help, Contagion and Lincoln. Participant launches campaigns that bring together government entities, foundations, schools, and others to raise awareness and drive people to take action on issues from each film or television show. Pivot (http://www.pivot.tv), the company’s television network, is available in 47 million homes, with a diverse slate of talent and a mix of original series, acquired programming, films and documentaries. TakePart (http://www.TakePart.com) is Participant’s digital news and lifestyle magazine and social action platform for the conscious consumer. Through its films, social action campaigns, digital network, and its television network, Participant seeks to entertain, encourage and empower every individual to take action.