Heather Blanda is the Manager of Program Planning and Strategy for Nickelodeon, where she is responsible for creating and managing the long-term program plans for all live-action and animated current series. She is instrumental in bridging bi-coastal communications, partnering with teams in both New York and LA on strategy. Blanda effectively aligns brand initiatives with programming plans and overall network strategies cross-departmentally with production, press, on-air promotions, marketing, consumer products and finance.
Blanda’s career at Nickelodeon started in 2006 when she joined the network as the coordinator of Nickelodeon Digital Programming in New York City. In this role, she contributed to the development and maintenance of scheduling and operations for emerging digital platforms including VOD, Nick.com, and download to own partnerships such as iTunes. In 2007, she redirected her focus to linear television as the coordinator of Pre-school Programming, where she created and scheduled programming stunts and on-air plans for the pre-school audience while evolving her expertise in broadcast operations and media planning. In 2011, Blanda was promoted and personally selected to relocate to Los Angeles to represent her team on the West Coast in her current role.
Hailing from New Jersey, Blanda holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film and Video studies from the University of Michigan. She is an avid surfer and has truly embraced L.A. life. She volunteers with the City of Santa Monica at the weekend farmer’s market, is an active participant in ocean conservation, and participates in regular beach cleanup events with the Heal the Bay organization.
