The ex-HBO topper piqued the industry's interest last week with three executive appointments at his new home, IMG, that made it clear he's hard at work turning the talent agency/production company into a name-brand player in the scripted TV and film world as well as the online realm.

Albrecht, prexy of IMG Global Media, tapped agent-turned-producer Rob Lee to serve as IMG Global Media's head of programming. That's a tough job for anyone to take on given that Albrecht is regarded as a master programmer who spearheaded the development of signature HBO skeins "The Sopranos," "Sex and the City," "Six Feet Under" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

Days later, Albrecht announced he'd recruited two former HBO colleagues, Carmi Zlotnik and John Penney, to serve as key operational lieutenants.

Zlotnik, head of IMG Global Media Operations, will oversee physical production operations and fiscal matters for IMG and its production subsidiaries, Tiger Aspect Prods. and Darlow Smithson Prods. During his 20 years at HBO, Zlotnik helped Albrecht oversee the expansion of HBO's production business and helped implement strategies for events such as the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival.

Penney was heavily involved in HBO's new-media and broadband strategies during his four years with the feevee outlet. He's tasked with spearheading growth strategies and taking the company into new business platforms as IMG Global Media Strategies.

"We are poised to take IMG Media to the next level," Albrecht assured in announcing Zlotnik and Penney's hires.