Time Warner Cable announced that Howie Hodges has been named vice president of external affairs, while automotive veteran Tom Valasek was hired as Time Warner Cable Media Sales’ vice president of business development.
In his role, Hodges will help develop and promote Time Warner Cable’s policy agenda, working closely with inter-governmental groups, the civil rights community, diversity organizations and other policy influencers. He will report to Fernando Laguarda, vice president of external affairs and policy counselor.
“It is a pleasure to have someone of Howie’s expertise join Time Warner Cable,” Laguarda said. “Howie’s extensive background and connections with a range of non-profit organizations will greatly help us further our strategic relationships.”
Hodges joined Time Warner Cable from One Economy, where he served as senior vice president of government affairs.
Prior to joining One Economy, Hodges founded and ran a consulting firm and served as a senior political appointee in the U. S. Commerce Department during the Clinton administration before going on to Bank of America, where he was a senior vice president.
In his new job, Valasek will serve as the first category owner for automotive media solutions across all of Time Warner Cable Media Sales. Valasek will work across functional areas within the organization to showcase Time Warner Cable’s comprehensive suite of targeted TV and digital marketing solutions with category insights to OEM, agency and dealer stakeholders in the auto industry.
He will also help drive product strategy, marketing and research initiatives to deliver the consumer insights and business outcomes clients demand.
“With 22 years of global, national and regional marketing experience with auto manufacturers, dealership groups and other strategic verticals for TWCMS, Tom is uniquely suited to provide our partners new insights and tools to grow their businesses and extend their brands. Whether it is a local automotive client looking to drive traffic to a singular location or a national partner looking to target their message into a local market, Tom will lead the charge,” said Warren Lapa, Time Warner Cable’s vice president of digital sales and business development.
Valasek joined Time Warner Cable from Rusnak Auto Group, where he served as one of three executive directors overseeing the auto dealer group and implemented media strategy and relations as the company’s spokesperson. Prior to Rusnak Auto Group, Valasek held senior marketing positions at Auto Nation, Rubin Postaer and Doner Advertising, as well as Young & Rubicam.
