Sinclair Broadcast is filling out its technical executive team, naming a new chief information officer and a deputy chief technology officer.
Brian Bark, formerly of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, has been tapped as Sinclair’s first CIO, while Mike Kralec is joining the broadcast giant as VP of technical operations and deputy CTO.
Bark is charged with leading the company’s workplace technology strategy, which includes responsibility for IT vision and objectives, developing the next generation traffic system, identifying opportunities and monetization of the ATSC 3.0 platform, and implementing workflow improvements through automation. Bark will report to Sinclair CEO Chris Ripley.
“This is an exciting time for Sinclair and the broadcast industry, particularly with the deployment of the transformational ATSC 3.0 and other new technologies that allow broadcasters to automate and transact more easily with their partners,” Bark said in a statement. “I am delighted to be joining Sinclair, a leader in the space, and helping them capitalize on the material shifts in the standards and impact of technology on content delivery and marketing services.”
Prior to joining Sinclair, Bark was chief business and innovation strategist in the office of the CTO at Hewlett Packard, and before that held multiple CIO and executive leadership positions during 15 years at Smiths Group Plc.
Kralec has been with Sinclair since 2014 as VP of data systems and information technology services. In his new role he will be responsible for broadcast and IT operations, reporting to CTO Del Parks.
“I welcome Brian to the Company and continuing our mission of having a best-in-class workplace technology group,” Ripley said in a statement. “I also want to thank Del Parks and Mike Kralec who have overseen the information technology functions for the past many years. It was their vision and execution that helped Sinclair become the technical leader we are today. With the Next Generation Broadcast Platform (ATSC 3.0) approved for commercialization, it became clear that Del and Mike would need to focus their attention to ensuring that all our broadcast operations were 3.0 ready and capable.”