Heather Symmes is Vice President, Content Distribution & Marketing for UP TV, Aspire and the UP Faith & Family streaming video service. She is an experienced marketing leader responsible for national cable and telecommunications video distributors large to small. She maintains oversight of all facets of account management for UP, Aspire and UP Faith & Family, including liaising with MVPD programming and UP TV’s negotiation team. In addition, Heather creates, manages and oversees national marketing initiatives and campaigns among top video providers. She has contributed greatly to increased brand awareness and media value through strong relationships and highly creative and strategic marketing partnerships. In addition, she interfaces with diverse areas of the video content business across media platforms.
Prior to joining UP TV in 2011, Heather held the position of Director, Marketing & Network Operations for Turner Broadcasting and was responsible for network affiliate marketing and local advertising sales strategy for CNN, CNN en Español, CNN International, HLN, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang. She joined Turner in 2007 as Director, Marketing & MSO Strategy, was active in Turner’s Business Resource Groups and was selected for the Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) Rising Leaders program in 2010.
Before Turner, Heather worked at Gospel Music Channel (GMC) as Director, Affiliate Marketing. In this role, she developed and executed innovative marketing partnerships, promotions and events to secure distribution of GMC with national providers.
Heather began her industry career working at MTV Networks/Viacom in a variety of managerial roles, in addition to serving on various task forces and the MTV Networks Diversity Council.
Heather graduated summa cum laude from Oglethorpe University with a BA in Communications.
