Comedy Central Taps AMC Veteran as VP PR

Comedy Central is adding to its PR ranks.

The Viacom-owned cable network has tapped AMC veteran Jill Dortheimer as vp communications and head of primetime publicity. Dortheimer, who will relocate from New York to L.A., will report to Steve Albani, senior vp communications at Comedy Central. She will head Comedy Central’s West Coast communications operations and oversee development and implementation of PR campaigns for the cabler’s primetime originals and — with Albani — the brand’s overall communications strategy. She begins Dec. 11 and will be based out of Viacom’s new Hollywood headquarters.

Dortheimer helped launch The Walking Dead during her tenure at AMC, which dates back to 2006. The zombie series is TV’s No. 1 drama among the advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 demographic. She has also worked on campaigns for Breaking Bad, Fear the Walking Dead, Better Call Saul, The Night Manager and more during her role as vp PR at AMC and sibling network Sundance TV.

“There aren’t many brands with as disparate a collection of characters as Comedy Central, so Jill’s experience working with zombies, meth kings and crooked lawyers definitely gives her a leg up as she embarks on her new adventure in Hollywood,” said Albani. “She is a consummate professional, dedicated to her craft, with outstanding relationships in the creative and media communities, and we’re really excited to provide her the opportunity to laugh more while on the job.”

Dortheimer fills the void created by Jenni Runyan, who exited the cable network earlier this year.