A+E ups Barry to key strategic role

Cable group A+E Networks has promoted Christopher Barry to senior VP and head of finance and business planning, international and digital.

Barry (left) was most recently SVP, international strategy and digital media at A+E’s international arm, but will lead the team responsible for financial oversight, business planning and “strategic support for growth initiatives and investments in the international and digital divisions”.

Barry was behind the acquisitions of the A+E businesses in southeast Asia and Italy, which brought the shareholdings the US companies didn’t own in those businesses into the fold.

He will report to A+E’s executive VP, financial and business planning, Art Vomvas, and president, international and digital media Sean Cohan.

A+E said the change would “serve to strengthen analytical support and align finance with our business divisions”.

“Christopher is a consummate strategist who has been instrumental in developing and executing the division’s growth plan with Sean Cohan and his team,” said Vomvas.

“I look forward to his future contributions as he leads the finance team and partners across both the International and Digital divisions to support our continued expansion.”

Barry joined A+E from Sundance Channel, where he was VP, digital media and business strategy. Before that, he was an investment banker.