WB Promotes Robert Blair, Jim Brehm

Robert Blair, a veteran of Warner Bros. International Television Distribution for nearly two decades, has been promoted to lead the international television sales division as EVP, international sales, Warner Bros. International Television Distribution. In addition, Jim Brehm, a nearly 30-year veteran of the international television business, has been promoted to EVP, global operations and administration, Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Distribution.

The announcement was made today by Jeffrey R. Schlesinger, President, Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Distribution.

Brehm will oversee all global television distribution business operations — including finance, administration, planning and analysis — for both Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution and Warner Bros. International Television Distribution.

Blair will oversee the sales team of executives based in 10  field offices around the world charged with licensing Warner Bros. programming across all television platforms, from free to cable/pay and subscription video on demand.

“Robert and Jim have done remarkable jobs during their many years with our group,” said Schlesinger. “These promotions and this realignment of their responsibilities, perfectly play to each of these executive’s strengths. As the global television marketplace continues to evolve, shift and be disrupted by new business models, having Jim and Robert’s leadership and vision will serve our distribution business well now and in the future.”

Blair, a 19-year veteran of the company previously served as EVP, Warner Bros. International Television Distribution with oversight of Europe, Middle East & Africa, a post he was named to in 2013. Prior to that, he was SVP, Northern Europe, Middle East, and Africa since 2006. He joined Warner Bros. International Television Distribution in 1998 as GM, Canadian operations and was promoted to VP and GM, Canadian operations in 2000.

Blair holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance from the University of Western Ontario.

Brehm, a 29-year veteran of the international television distribution business, the last nine with Warner Bros., most recently was EVP, Warner Bros. International Television Distribution with oversight of Canada, Asia Pacific and Latin America, a post he was named to in 2013.

Prior to that he had served since 2008 as SVP, sales, Canada, Asia Pacific and Latin America. He came to Warner Bros. International Television Distribution from The Walt Disney Co., where he spent the last two years as SVP, sales, for Disney ABC International Television. In that role, he had oversight of pay, free and on demand licensing for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Prior to joining DAIT, Brehm worked at Paramount for 17 years, most recently as EVP, international television, Paramount Pictures Worldwide TV Distribution. He began his career in the entertainment division of professional services firm Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers).