FAST operator Wurl hires Comedy Central & Vubiqity alums

Dave Bernath

Free advertising-supported channels (FAST) operator Wurl has hired a raft of execs including Comedy Central’s former general manager Dave Bernath ahead of a planned global expansion.

Bernath, who left the ViacomCBS-owned channel in 2017, becomes director of business development & content strategy at Wurl, which works with companies including A+E Networks and AMC Networks to connect them with FAST operators such and Roku and Samsung TV Plus. 

The company has also hired former Vubiquity VP of sales Richard Cross as director of business development based out of London, along with ex-Mediagenix business development director Jose Maria Fregoso, who holds the same role in Latin America.

Former Vewd VP of sales & business development Michael Winneker and ex-Warner Bros. VP of sales & strategic partnerships Deanne Lewis are also making up new director of business development roles, with all five execs reporting to Craig Heiting, SVP of worldwide business development.

Wurl has rapidly expanded its operations over recent months and launched 100 channels ion nine new countries in Q1.

Sean Doherty, CEO at Wurl, said his company had grown by a further 30 staff during the same period and is planning to double its full-time employees by the end of the year.