Lara Richardson has been named chief marketing officer of Crown Media Family Networks, said President & CEO Wonya Lucas on Thursday. Richardson will report to Lucas and be based in Los Angeles.

“Lara is well known and lauded in the industry as a highly creative, visionary, and insightful leader with cutting-edge ideas and marketing strategies,” said Lucas in a statement. “As our industry continues to rapidly evolve, Lara’s expertise will be instrumental in further reinforcing the Crown Media brand, optimizing our marketing messages across multiple platforms, and ultimately reshaping the way our audience experiences and engages with our linear channels and digital properties.”

Richardson formerly was group executive vice president of marketing for Discovery and Science Channel where she was responsible for the global marketing vision across the brands, including all marketing campaigns, strategy, operations, partnerships, and domestic distribution of creative content. Prior to joining Discovery, Richardson was TLC’s vice president of creative. She’s also a Promax board member.

Outside of work, Richardson is a passionate and dedicated volunteer. In 2005, she worked with the Red Cross in the rescue and relief efforts following the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Katrina. More recently, she spearheaded and founded Operation Puerto Rico Care Lift, a pop-up relief organization that delivered emergency funds and life-sustaining supplies to thousands of people following 2017’s Hurricane Maria. Richardson earned a bachelor of arts in communication and theater arts from Washington State University.

Crown Media has been rebuilding since a shake-up that saw former CEO Bill Abbott exit his post in January. Hallmark Channel came under fire in December 2019 for pulling ads from wedding planning company Zola that featured a same-sex couple kissing at their wedding. Lucas came on in July, followed by such hires as Annie Howell as chief communications officer in September, and such promotions as Allison Bennett to vice president, corporate communications and publicity.

Tags: career moves crown media family networks lara richardson


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