Sinclair Promotes Faber And Gibber

Sinclair Broadcast Group today promoted Barry Faber to president, distribution and network relations from EVP/general counsel/distribution and network relations and will be stepping down as Sinclair’s general counsel. Concurrently, David Gibber has been promoted to SVP/general counsel from VP/deputy general counsel.

In their new roles, which are effective immediately, Faber and Gibber will report directly to Chris Ripley, Sinclair’s president-CEO.

In making the announcement, Ripley said: “Barry has done a tremendous job as Sinclair’s general counsel for the past 20 years, while also overseeing all aspects of the distribution of our content and the vital relationships with the networks with which our stations are affiliated. He was a driving force in the industry’s successful efforts to be paid for its content under the retransmission consent regime and has decided to step down from his responsibilities for Sinclair’s legal matters in order to focus exclusively on distribution, which now represents close to 50% of all of Sinclair’s revenue, and on network relations.

“With our expanding portfolio of content, including the new regional sports network formed with the Chicago Cubs, and the emergence of virtual and over-the-top streaming services, as well as direct-to-consumer opportunities, we need to be thinking about how these platforms can benefit us in the future. We believe Barry is the perfect person to oversee this given his successful history in working with our network and distribution partners.”

Ripley further commented: “I am very pleased to announce that David Gibber will be taking over Barry’s other responsibilities as general counsel. David has done an outstanding job advising the company and overseeing many of the day-to-day working matters of our legal department. David has also made significant contributions to the company including advising on and negotiating many of our transactions and strategic initiatives and relationships. This is a very well-deserved promotion, and we are excited to promote David into this role.”

Faber has been Sinclair’s general counsel since 1999, as well as either EVP or VP–distribution and network relations since 2008. From 1996 to 1999 he was Sinclair’s associate general counsel. Faber is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the University of Virginia School of Law.

Gibber joined Sinclair in 2011 and has served as VP/deputy general counsel, deputy general counsel/director of legal services and legal counsel. Prior to joining Sinclair, he was an associate at Gordon Feinblatt in Baltimore.

Gibber received his J.D. degree from the University of Maryland School of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude, Order of the Coif.