NBC ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMMING HEAD CRAIG PLESTIS PROMOTED TO EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMMING, DEVELOPMENT AND SPECIALS, NBC ENTERTAINMENT
BURBANK, Calif. � March 12, 2007 � Craig Plestis, the head of NBC's Alternative Programming department, has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, Development and Specials, NBC Entertainment, it was announced today by Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment to whom he reports.
"Craig is a tireless idea guy which is what it takes in the non-stop, competitive world of reality programming," said Reilly. "He's done a great job in creating our first-class alternative programming department and has had hands-on involvement in developing our top-performing alternative hits."
Plestis was appointed Senior Vice President of Alternative Programs and Development in June 2004 overseeing all alternative programming for the network including the hit series "Deal or No Deal," "The Biggest Loser," "The Apprentice," "America's Got Talent," "Last Comic Standing" and "1 vs 100," among others in development. In Summer 2006, he added West Coast Specials to his resume overseeing "The Golden Globe Awards."
In May 2003, Plestis was named as Vice President, Alternative Programs, NBC Entertainment and previously was Vice President, Alternative Programs, where he was responsible for shepherding and developing a variety of alternative series programs including hit unscripted series "For Love or Money" and "Who Wants to Marry My Dad?" in addition to "The Apprentice."
Earlier, Plestis had served as Vice President, On-Air Promotions, The NBC Agency, where he supervised the on-air promotion of NBC's drama series, alternative series, movies and miniseries. Prior to that, he had been Director, On-Air Promotion, The NBC Agency, where he concentrated on drama series.
Plestis first worked for NBC in 1997 as a freelance writer-producer and quickly gained a staff position when he became Senior Writer-Producer, The NBC Agency.
Before he came to NBC, Plestis worked as a producer at Notorious Pictures, where he helped launch the promotion efforts for UPN. He had worked in on-air promotions for the Jacobson-Gerber advertising agency where he handled the CBS account. He first came to Los Angeles in 1992 to do freelance production.
After he graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in film from the School of Visual Arts in New York City, Plestis found his first professional jobs in commercial work for small production companies. He served as Director of Photography for the Woolworth Co. for 18 months, where he did in-house assignments for the firm's many subsidiary companies.
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