Levin to take HRTS reins
Frog net's entertainment prexy to lead board
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Levin, the Frog's entertainment prexy, will inherit the yearlong gig from outgoing FX exec Kevin Reilly, who's separately set officially to join NBC next week.
As head of the HRTS board of directors, Levin will lead an org looking to reinvent itself. The consolidation of media congloms has decreased the number of execs attending the HRTS' bread-and-butter events, its monthly newsmaker lunches.
As a result, HRTS has started scouting for corporate underwriting; PricewaterhouseCoopers recently donated $15,000 as the org's first sponsor.
HRTS also is looking to diversify beyond its monthly meetings, such as expanding its youth mentoring program. "Our main goal is to give the HRTS a fresh coat of paint," Reilly said. "We're looking to give it a kick in the pants."
That also means taking a new tack toward next week's luncheon, which has become HRTS' signature event. "Access Hollywood's" Pat O'Brien will moderate, but questions will be posed by actors, producers and execs via video clips. An MTV team will produce the lunch for the first time.
"There's a real desire on everyone's part to make it a forum that's vital and newsworthy," Levin said of the luncheons.
Other upcoming events include a lunch featuring Ted Turner. Org is looking at introducing a nighttime or weekend annual event, such as an executive roast.
Joining the HRTS board are Fox's Craig Erwich, Endeavor's Paul Haas, Paramount's Garry Hart, WorldLink's Toni Erickson Knight, Sony's Russ Krasnoff, BWCS' Chris Silbermann and HBO's Carolyn Strauss.
Twentieth Century Fox TV co-prexy Dana Walden has been named VP of the org; she'll succeed Levin as president when his term expires next year.
HRTS, run by exec director Gene Herd, was founded in 1947.
