PlayNetwork Adds To Senior Management Team

Gail Chiasson, North American Editor

Brian Hirsh has been named senior vice-president of marketing, licensing and new media, and Walt Tatum becomes senior vice-president of North American sales at Redmond, Washington-based PlayNetwork.

Each brings extensive experience in creative media for the business industry, enhancing PlayNetwork’s core teams and complimenting the company’s overall growth strategy for the future.

Hirsh, the former president of Retail Entertainment Design, an entertainment marketing agency, spent the past five years concentrating on in-store media, out-of- home advertising, brand development and digital signage. He oversaw marketing, media relations, licensing, finance, and drove the strategic direction for the company. Prior to that, Hirsh was the director of national sales at DMX Music, a provider of media, music and entertainment for retail and hospitality brands. As a recognized leader in the marketplace, Hirsh has spoken at many industry events and is also a member of the Digital Signage Expo Advisory Board.

“PlayNetwork has been expanding as an industry leader over the last few years; growth I witnessed from the sidelines while working for its competitor,” says Hirsh. “PlayNetwork is comprised of creative people with great ideas, and with the current acquisition of Channel M, the team is truly best in class within our industry.”

Tatum has been promoted to senior vice-president of North American sales after joining PlayNetwork in May, 2009, as its regional sales director. He will now oversee all direct, VAR (Value Added Reseller) and local sales channels within North America.

Before joining PlayNetwork, Tatum was the vice- president and general manager of sales at DMX Music, where he spent eight years, two of those years overlapping the time Hirsh spent at DMX Music. Prior to that, Tatum was the CEO of XTreme Motorsports International.

“The key to creating a strong team is to recruit the best players available,” says Lon Troxel, CEO of PlayNetwork. “Brian and Walt represent two of the best for PlayNetwork. The industry expertise and experience they will provide PlayNetwork will be invaluable as we continue to grow and strive to be the leader within our industry.”

PlayNetwork, Inc., specializes in the creation and distribution of entertainment media that connects the brand to the consumer across all touchpoints: in-store, online and on-device. Founded in 1996, the integrated media provider for branded music, messaging, video, advertising sales, entertainment promotions, systems integration services, and commercial XM Satellite Radio subscriptions, creates high-impact media experiences that drive consumer behavior and affinity, in-store and beyond. PlayNetwork works with many of today’s hottest brands in the retail, hospitality, health and fitness, banking, and other business environments.


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