Weigel Broadcasting has promoted William Craig to Vice President of Network Marketing, placing him in charge of marketing strategy and audience engagement across the company’s expanding portfolio of entertainment networks.
Craig succeeds Will Givens, Weigel’s longtime Senior Vice President of Network Marketing, who is retiring after a four-decade career in television. Givens will continue working with Weigel in a consulting role focused on succession and special projects, the broadcaster said on Wednesday.
In his expanded role, Craig will oversee creative development, promotional strategy and marketing efforts supporting Weigel’s national programming brands. The company’s portfolio includes MeTV, MeTV Toons, Catchy Comedy, Heroes & Icons, Start TV, Dabl, Story Television and West, among other properties.
“William has been instrumental in growing and elevating our networks for years, combining creativity, strategic thinking and a commitment to our audiences,” Neal Sabin, the Vice Chairman of Weigel Broadcasting, said in a statement. “He understands what makes Weigel unique and is exceptionally well-positioned to lead our marketing efforts into the future.”
Craig joined Weigel in 2014 and most recently served as Vice President of Network Brands. In that role, he helped develop strategic and creative initiatives intended to strengthen viewer engagement and expand the reach of Weigel’s entertainment networks across platforms. Before joining Weigel, Craig held production leadership roles at NBC Universal, Scripps and Tribune Broadcasting, building experience in production, storytelling, audience development and multiplatform promotion.
“It is an honor to take on this role during such an exciting period of growth for Weigel,” Craig said. “I look forward to continuing to build innovative ways to connect with our audiences, support our partners and champion the incredible future of broadcast television.”
Givens joined Weigel in 2014 after holding leadership roles at independent, WB, the CW Network and Fox stations in California, including KMPH (Channel 26, Fox) in Fresno and KSWB (Channel 69, Fox) in San Diego. During his tenure at Weigel, he played a central role in the growth of the company’s multicast networks, the broadcaster noted.
His career honors include 13 Emmy Awards, a Promax Gold Award and the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award.
