Marjorie Kaplan sets the strategic direction and oversees day-to-day operations for Discovery’s integrated Animal Planet Media Enterprises group.
In 2007 Kaplan took the helm at Animal Planet Media, a multi-media venture that includes the Animal Planet television network, animalplanet.com, the leading pet adoption site Petfinder.com, and PetsIncredible.com, which produces pet training videos.
Kaplan previously oversaw all Discovery Kids Channel programming, the three-hour commercial-free READY SET LEARN! pre-school block that airs on both TLC and Discovery Kids Channel, the discoverykids.com website, and children’s products and services. In 2006, Kaplan led Discovery Kids Channel to 14 daytime Emmy nominations.
Kaplan joined Discovery Communications in 1997 as senior vice president for children’s programming and products, and oversaw the launch of Discovery Kids Channel that same year.
Before joining Discovery, Kaplan served as executive vice president at Lancit Media Entertainment, the Emmy Award-winning producer of children’s programs including “Reading Rainbow” and “The Puzzle Place.” Discovery purchased a minority equity stake in Lancit Media in September 1996, and Kaplan became responsible for managing the relationship between Discovery and Lancit.
Kaplan also served as director of advertising for Kraft General Foods where she was responsible for brand strategy, positioning, and advertising. Additionally, Kaplan was a vice president at Ogilvy & Mather, with clients including General Foods, AT&T and TWA. She also consulted to Warner Amex Satellite Entertainment on the development of a shopping channel.
Kaplan is an alumna of Brown University where she majored in semiotics.
