Kim Martin

As president and general manager of WE tv, Kim Martin oversees all aspects of the network, including marketing, programming, production, scheduling, digital media and new business opportunities.  Martin’s efforts are directed at further cementing WE tv as the premier women’s destination showcasing unfiltered stories of modern family life.  The original programming embodies the network’s brand position and tagline, “Life As WE Know It,” which signifies the connection women share based on similar life experiences, like getting married, raising a family, dealing with sibling rivalry, and overcoming financial hardships.

Martin was named president of WE tv in September 2008.  She previously oversaw WE tv as executive vice president and general manager since December 2004.  Under Martin’s leadership, WE tv has seen tremendous increases in ratings, including delivery of younger women.  She is credited with the continued growth of WE tv, now available to nearly 78 million U.S. households (Source: Nielsen Media Research).  Under Martin’s tenure, WE tv’s original programming slate has also grown significantly, with hit series including Braxton Family Values, Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?, Downsized, and My Fair Wedding with David Tutera.  She also spearheads the network’s multiplatform strategy, including the online destinations WEtv.com and WE tv On Demand, the brand’s VOD service that features original series from the network.

Martin is passionate about WE tv’s public affairs initiative WE Empowers Women, which is dedicated to creating programs which foster and celebrate women’s strength, confidence and diversity.  WE Empowers Women’s current initiative, WE Volunteer, is a call-to-action for women to become more involved in their communities by connecting them with local causes they are passionate about while encouraging them to volunteer.

Prior to joining WE tv as executive vice president and general manager in December 2004, Martin served as executive vice president of distribution and affiliate marketing for AMC Networks (formerly Rainbow Media Holdings).  In this role, she was responsible for the distribution of all the company’s networks, including AMC, Fuse (now managed by Madison Square Garden), IFC and WE tv, and AMC Networks’ original VOD services at that time – Mag Rack and SPORTSKOOL.  Martin joined the company in 1999 as executive vice president of affiliate sales and marketing for AMC Networks, overseeing distribution and affiliate marketing for AMC and WE tv.

Before joining AMC Networks, Martin was senior vice president of affiliate sales for Discovery Networks where she was responsible for managing affiliate sales for the United States and Canada.  She was instrumental in promoting Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel and Discovery Health, as well as developing and maintaining relationships with regional and corporate MSOs.  Martin’s leadership resulted in overachieved sales goals every year since joining Discovery in 1989.

Martin holds a Master of Business Administration from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Georgia College and State University.  Martin serves on the Women in Cable and Telecommunications’ (WICT) national board of directors as the chair of the Development Committee, is a graduate of WICT’s Betsy Magness Leadership Institute (BMLI) and has served as a WICT executive mentor.  She is also a member of the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM).  Martin was named by CableFAX for five consecutive years as one of the top 30 most powerful women in cable and is a Multichannel News & WICT Wonder Woman.  She was also named to The Hollywood Reporter’s “Top 30 in Reality Television” list of honorees.

In addition, Martin serves on the Foundation Board of Trustees for Georgia College and State University and is a Luminary Circle member of and mentor for Step Up Women’s Network, a national, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to connecting and advancing women and girls.