Michal Shapira is senior vice president of news content partnerships for Turner Ignite. In this role, Shapira oversees strategic partnership marketing across the news division’s multiplatform footprint, including CNN, HLN, CNN Airport Network, CNN Digital and Great Big Story. Based in New York, she reports to Dan Riess, executive vice president of Turner Ignite.
Since joining the company in 2014, Shapira has been focused on the development of best-in-class brand programs that drive business results for marketing partners. From spearheading the launch of Courageous, CNN’s first-ever brand studio (with a global purview and focus on brand journalism), to leading digital ad product strategy, development and innovation, Shapira and her team continue to expand the suite of capabilities available to partners. Within this position, Shapira also manages the news properties branding and positioning in the marketplace, including the CNN Experience and CNN’s role in Turner’s cross-portfolio Upfront, as well as brand partnership activations at tentpole events from the CNN Grills at the Presidential Conventions to CNN Heroes.
Previously, Shapira held a number of leadership positions within the Ad Sales department of The Wall Street Journal, including vice president of media innovation, vice president and head of global integrated marketing solutions and head of digital marketing. Prior to her time at The Wall Street Journal, Shapira served as the executive director and head of Condé Nast Studio, delivering digital creative services to Condé Nast clients. Within her career, Shapira also held several digital-focused roles at AOL and iVillage.
Under Shapira’s oversight, her team has been honored with notable industry recognition, including Adweek’s “Hottest in Branded Content” and Digiday Video Awards’ “Best Video Publishing Partner for Brands” in 2018, as well as Turner Ignite and CNN’s first Cannes Lions in 2017. Additional honors include three Adweek ARC Awards including the “Grand Arc Award” and Digiday Content Marketing Awards’ “Best Use of Native Advertising” for two years running, among many others.
Shapira has recently been honored twice by She Runs It (formerly AWNY) with the “Changing the Game Award” in the brainwave category and as a “Working Mother of the Year” in 2017. She received a bachelor’s degree in sociology and economics from Tulane University and a master’s degree in business administration from Emory University. She resides in Manhattan with her husband and three sons.
Turner Ignite is focused on reimagining advertising. Powered by unrivaled branded content services, data-rich ad targeting capabilities, first-of-its kind social optimization tools and global distribution, Turner Ignite empowers brands to build more meaningful connections with consumers and drive return on investment at scale. The business unit is backed by Turner’s wide-scale audience of diverse fans within its portfolio properties, including leading media brands Adult Swim, Boomerang, Cartoon Network, CNN, Great Big Story, HLN, TBS, TNT, truTV, Bleacher Report and Turner Sports' high-profile coverage of the NBA, Major League Baseball, NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, ELEAGUE, UEFA and professional golf. In addition, the company has digital sales partnerships with the NBA, NCAA and PGA.
