Shine America Names Two New Business Execs

Michael Minden has been named senior vice president, business affairs and head of entertainment Legal and Yvonne Rena Bennett has been named vice president, business and legal affairs, Shine America, it was announced today.

Minden, who has been SVP-deputy general counsel at Viacom Media Networks (formerly MTV Networks) since 2008, will serve as a senior negotiator and business advisor to the company and oversee all entertainment-related legal matters.

Bennett, who previously was VP, business and legal affairs at A+E Television Networks, will be the primary business affairs executive for Shine 360Ëš, handling product integrations, ancillary licensing, marketing and other related matters.

For the last five years, Minden has overseen a team of MTV and CMT executives responsible for the business and legal affairs of the networks’ scripted and unscripted programming. From 2005 to 2008, Minden served as VP, business and legal affairs at Viacom Media Networks.

Previously, Minden represented a wide array of writers, actors, directors and producers in film, TV, print and commercial work while in private practice for nearly ten years. Minden holds a JD from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles and a BA in economics from UCLA.

Bennett was previously VP, business and legal affairs at A+E Television Networks in Los Angeles, where she provided strategic legal/business advice and support to the company’s program acquisitions, marketing, publicity, ad sales, public affairs and other business units.

Bennett has also served as a VP in business and legal affairs at Gemstar/TV Guide, The Walt Disney Co., Fox Family Channel and Encore Media. She also owned and operated her own real estate company, Catharsis Capital Group, from 2005 to 2008.

Bennett holds a JD from Georgetown University Law Center, an MA in mass communications from Howard University and a BA in English from West Virginia Wesleyan College.