Biography
Marc Edwards is a strategic and innovative executive with over 30 years of senior leadership and teambuilding experience including marketing, business development and operational rolls for leading media concerns including Viacom International, BET and Showtime Networks. Marc has a passionate interest in supporting Africa and the greater African diaspora through the implementation of technology to advance the social viability and economic development. He served as the head of Business development and & multiplatform Distribution for Arise TV – which produces global news from the prism of the African diaspora. At Viacom International he led the charge to re-brand TNN into Spike TV as the SVP Marketing. There he led all initiatives in support of signature programming such as the Video Game Awards and the Ultimate Fighter- UFC competition show. In addition, Mr. Edwards drove the business development and launch efforts of Tempo, a basic cable network devoted to promoting the music and cultural contributions of the Caribbean. He also led the affiliate sales teams for Black Entertainment TV and Showtime Networks. As the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Fox Sports New England regional cable network Marc oversaw all sales, marketing and advertising sales and operational functions with full P&L responsibility. In addition, he managed the cable production and telecast for the NBA's Boston Celtics and the NHL's Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes. Mr. Edwards served as the founder and President of an entrepreneurial venture called Tribefly, a multi-media brand dedicated to the sponsorship of the "world view" entertainment interests of more than 57 million "Culturally Curious" adults currently residing in the US. This "values" driven psychographic spends more than $66 billion annually on globally oriented travel, music, film and cuisine activities that are an expression of their desire for "authentic" and "unique" experiences. Mr. Edwards earned his B.S. in Economics from North Carolina A&T State University magna cum laude, and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Wisconsin.