Starz Announces Corporate Communications and Publicity Group Promotions

Starz EVP of Communications Theano Apostolou announced the promotions of Eric Becker to SVP, Corporate Communications; Shannon Buck to SVP, Programming Publicity and Colleen Curtis to SVP, Consumer and Digital Publicity.

"I am pleased to announce the well-deserved promotions of Eric, Shannon and Colleen who are incredibly valued members of the corporate communications and publicity team as well as the company," Apostolou said. "Their leadership and dedication have been instrumental in successfully introducing new, original programming to the marketplace. All three are talented communications executives whose ongoing commitment to the success of the company and business units is a true testament to their expertise and experience in the communications and publicity field."

A 16-year Starz veteran, Becker is responsible for corporate communications for Starz, including its Starz Worldwide Distribution and Starz Digital divisions and other holdings. He is charged with crafting and implementing PR strategy for the publicly-traded Starz corporate entity, its core premium pay TV business, and the various Starz distribution units with domestic and international media relations and corporate affairs activities.

Based in the company's Colorado headquarters, Becker joined Starz in 1999 and has advanced through various management positions during his tenure at Starz, serving most recently as VP, Corporate Communications. Prior to joining Starz, Becker was Director, Corporate Communications for On Command Corporation and an associate at GBSM, a Denver-based communications consulting firm specializing in strategic communications, media relations and marketing.

Becker has served on the board of directors for the Association of Cable Communicators (ACC) since 2010. Becker earned his Bachelor of Arts in history and political Science from Northwestern University and earned his Juris Doctor from the Boston University School of Law.

Buck was promoted most recently from VP, Programming Publicity. Based in the company's Beverly Hills offices, Buck is responsible for the strategic development and execution of publicity campaigns for Starz Original series including "Black Sails," "Blunt Talk," "The Missing," "Ash vs Evil Dead" and others.

Buck joined Starz in 2012 after nearly six years at Ferencomm, the NY-based agency specializing in television publicity. At Ferencomm, Buck served as vice president. During her tenure there, she led campaigns for such series as "Top Chef" and "The Millionaire Matchmaker" and served as a principal on accounts including Sundance Channel, Food Network, Bravo, Travel Channel, We tv, Sesame Workshop, The History Channel, GAC, "Access Hollywood" and others. She also led the Starz account where she worked on the network's original series campaigns, including the "Spartacus" franchise, "Boss" and "Party Down."

Prior to joining FerenComm, Buck served in the Media Relations department for Fox News Channel, in both Washington, D.C. and New York City. She served as the unit publicist for "Fox & Friends," and supported media relations efforts for the network during the 2004 President Election and Hurricane Katrina. Buck holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia where she graduated with honors with a double major in Media Studies and English Literature.

Based in the company's New York office, Curtis joined Starz in 2014 as VP, Consumer and Digital Publicity. In her new role as SVP, Consumer and Digital Publicity, she is responsible for a range of communications and media relations activities tied to the company's original programming strategy, including developing strategic public relations campaigns targeting consumer and trade media using multiple platforms.

Prior to joining Starz, Curtis most recently served as Director of Digital Content/Office of Digital Strategy in the Executive Office of the President at The White House in Washington, D.C. where she led the department in using the power of the Internet to open the White House to the American people. She oversaw all content created for WhiteHouse.gov, LetsMove.gov, JoiningForces.gov and other online platforms. Curtis earned a Webby Honoree for Excellence Award for "Let's Move Live with Michelle Obama" on AOL Health in 2011.

Prior to her position at The White House, Curtis served as Editorial Director at AOL overseeing the Women's & Lifestyle Programming and Editorial Supervisor at "Good Morning America" where she was part of the team that received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Morning Program in 2006. Curtis' extensive editorial experience also includes positions with "Cosmopolitan" and "Marie Claire" magazines as well as Canada's "National Post" and the "New York Daily News" where she served in various roles including Managing Editor/Features, Features Editor and Deputy Sunday Features Editor.

Curtis holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Journalism from Boston University and attended Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and has received three Webby Honoree for Excellence Awards as well as Silver and Bronze Telly Awards.

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