Jeff Tobler Returns to Universal Television Entertainment as Senior VP

Jeff Tobler has been appointed as the senior vice president of awards and integrated communications at Universal Television Entertainment, marking a significant return to the television industry after a tenure at Expedia Group Brands. Tobler, who will officially start on January 19, will report to Tracy St. Pierre, executive vice president of communications for Universal Television Entertainment Group. His role will focus on developing campaign strategies that foster collaboration across various divisions within the company.

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Tobler's career in the entertainment industry began at NBC Entertainment, where he served as a coordinator. He later held various positions at Warner Bros. Television Group, including senior vice president of TV publicity, communications, and social media. At Warner Bros., he was instrumental in overseeing publicity for over 70 scripted series and building relationships with notable producers such as Chuck Lorre and J.J. Abrams. His experience also includes a role as chief marketing officer at Ava DuVernay’s Array, where he managed marketing and press strategies, including a partnership with Ben & Jerry’s that resulted in a unique ice cream flavor.

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Throughout his career, Tobler has been recognized for his innovative campaigns that have turned television shows into cultural events. St. Pierre highlighted several of his memorable projects, such as the global celebration for the 25th anniversary of "Friends," the SXSW panel featuring Kevin Bacon, and the historic handprint ceremony for "The Big Bang Theory" at the TCL Chinese Theatre. Additionally, he initiated Warner Bros.' first "Social Media Code of Conduct" to protect talent and creators.

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Tracy St. Pierre expressed her enthusiasm for Tobler's return, stating, “I’ve known Jeff for over 20 years, and from day one I’ve been inspired by his creativity, innovative approach to campaigns and the long-standing relationships he’s built across our industry.” She emphasized that Tobler's blend of awards experience and communications expertise aligns with the company’s values of culture and collaboration.

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While Tobler's appointment has been met with positive responses from colleagues, there has been no significant public dissent or criticism reported regarding his return to Universal Television Entertainment.

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As Tobler steps into his new role, he is expected to collaborate with St. Pierre and other communications leaders to create integrated campaign strategies that elevate the profiles of Universal's brands and creative partners. His focus will be on generating conversation-leading moments throughout the year for the company's series.

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• “In this role, Jeff will partner with me and our comms leaders to look for opportunities to collaborate across divisions and create integrated campaign strategies. He shares our vision of creating conversation-leading moments throughout the year for our series and elevating the profiles of our brands and our creative partners. I look forward to his creativity and ingenuity powering our efforts across the Universal Television Entertainment portfolio while continuing to build on the culture of collaboration that makes this team special.” — Tracy St. Pierre, Executive VP, Communications, Universal Television Entertainment Group

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