Top job to Buckley in Turner rejig

Turner Entertainment Networks (TEN) has promoted Mick Buckley to the new role of UK managing director.

Buckley will be in charge of three channels: CNN, the rolling news channel; the Cartoon Network; and TNT, the classic movies channel.

He will report to Andy Bird, who is managing director of the Turner Broadcasting System (TBS), the holding company for TEN. Bird, who is based in London, operates across Europe, Africa and the Middle East for TBS.

Buckley, senior vice-president of entertainment advertising sales for TNT and the Cartoon Network, will be replaced by Dee Forbes, who is the vice-president of advertising sales.

Buckley has previously worked for TSW, the former ITV region and Carlton.

Ted Turner’s Turner Broadcasting company, which has interests in terrestrial TV, cable, film, sport, and real estate around the world, was bought by Time Warner in October 1996 for 4.7bn.

The Cartoon Network underwent rapid expansion last year, opening in six new territories.

Last February, CNN International appointed Landsdown Conquest as its ad agency for a pan- European campaign to promote non-news programmes.

Buckley’s promotion is part of a general overhaul of senior Turner Broadcasting staff based in Europe. Further announcements are expected by the end of the month.