ATTN:, a social storytelling and content creation company, is expanding its executive team with new promotions and hirings. ATTN:’s COO Taryn Crouthers has been promoted to president. In addition, ATTN: has hired Cindy Vanegas-Gesuale as svp operations and Kristen King as evp, managing director.
“We’re thrilled to expand our incredible team by bringing in Cindy and Kristen, two industry veterans who understand the intersection of storytelling, new media and social causes,” said ATTN: co-founders Jarrett Moreno and Matthew Segal in a statement. “We are also proud to elevate Taryn, a savvy strategist who played an integral role in the success of ATTN:. As we continue delivering purpose-driven storytelling that wins over key audiences, we know that these leaders will increase our impact and help push us to new heights.”
As ATTN:’s COO, Crouthers led the company’s revenue and business strategy, brand studio, creative agency and TikTok studio. She joined ATTN: as head of brand partnerships in early 2016 and built out revenue, operations and client services. Crouthers and her team scaled the business to include a robust branded content operation, media, white label production, consulting and an experiential division. Prior to joining ATTN:, Crouthers was a director of sales at A+E Networks, building out non-traditional revenue, and before that she spent 10 years at AMC Networks in advertising sales.
Cindy Vanegas-Gesuale (l) has been hired as svp operations and Kristen King as evp, managing director at ATTN:
Vanegas-Gesuale will oversee production, IT and business operations in her new role. A 21-year veteran of the digital and cable news business, Vanegas-Gesuale has launched cable news networks, digital streaming platforms and been responsible for hours of programming. She has served as COO at creative studio Convicts, head of studio at BuzzFeed and head of The Huffington Post video group. Career highlights include launching the first digital streaming news show on Twitter for BuzzFeed News, earning a News and Documentary Emmy-nomination for the Netflix series “Follow This,” launching a multiple-award winning 20-film series on voter education in collaboration with PBS, launching the Fox Business Network, and working on the CNN Heroes series.
King brings nearly 20 years of experience to her role. She was previously partner and head of client services at FIG, where she set the strategic and operational vision for all of the agency’s client engagements. During her time there, she helped the independent agency almost double in size and secure dozens of new client partnerships. Before FIG, King was managing director of the creative and content division of Engine New York (now Big Village), where she led the development of effective digital-first campaigns for clients including HBO, Soulcycle, Foot Locker, Nestlè Purina, Frito-Lay and Neutrogena. Prior to Engine, King held positions at agencies including Grey, DDB and Digitas and served as a key advisor to brands such as Directv, Comcast and L’Oreal.
ATTN: was launched in 2014 and last year was acquired by Candle Media for $150 million. The social publisher launched an in-house creative agency last July, giving it a third line of business in addition to brand partnerships and production studio offerings.