Rod Perth Named New NATPE President-CEO

Longtime media industry executive Rod Perth has been named the new president and CEO of NATPE||Content First, the association’s Co-Chairs Jordan Levin and Chris Grant announced today.

Perth, who begins his new job today, succeeds Rick Feldman, and, according to the organization will have “overall responsibility for the vision, strategic evolution, marketing, programming and financial/administrative operations of the organization.”

Reporting to the executive committee and the board of directors, he will also lead a senior management team made up of six direct reports and a total staff of 20 people. The executive recruiting firm Korn/Ferry oversaw the search for Feldman’s replacement.

“After an expansive executive search process, where there were many highly qualified candidates, we concluded that Rod’s broad range of experience reflects the diverse influences shaping our industry and NATPE’s role in bringing together its various constituencies,” Levin and Grant said. “Combined with his vast network of relationships and senior management skills, we believe Rod is ideally suited to evolve NATPE into a dynamic global organization relevant to all who touch content. His imprint will be on next year’s conference in Miami, which marks NATPE’s 50th anniversary. It will recognize the considerable milestones in our business and serve as a springboard into our new initiatives for the future.”

Prior to joining NATPE, Perth was founder and president of RHP Media Consulting, specializing in strategic consulting and planning for digital media, broadcast, cable and new media initiatives. Before that, he was co-founder and president of television for the ReelzChannel TV Network.

His previous positions included president of Jim Henson Television Worldwide and president, USA Networks Entertainment. He began his career with the CBS Television Stations Group, where he rose to run latenight programming for the CBS Television Network. Perth has served as a member of the Boards of Marvel and CNET, among others, and is an adjunct professor at USC’s Film School.

“I have grown up professionally knowing and experiencing what NATPE has to offer, and find the prospect of developing and implementing a path for its future to be an extremely exciting and challenging one. NATPE’s executive committee and board represent many of the top leaders in our business and, with their support, I believe that we can accomplish a great deal together for the benefit of our members from around the world,” Perth said.

Feldman, who was NATPE CEO for nine years, announced in February that he would transition into a consultancy role with the group. He stepped aside from full-time oversight of NATPE at the end of April.

“The thing that’s important, based on what people say to me, is that I left NATPE in better shape than it was in when I took over nine years ago,” says Feldman. “Despite some difficult economic times, we created a more relevant organization.”