56. Comcastic Marketer

Marvin Davis       
Title: SVP, marketing, Comcast   
Age: 42
Years in Industry: 2

Why Him? Marvin Davis hasn't been at Comcast (or in the cable industry) very long, but his impact is unmistakable. It seems an unlikely coincidence that almost immediately after Davis joined Comcast, the MSO's marketing got hip, funny, and dare we say… effective. We all know about the wildly successful “Comcastic” initiative that Ad Week named its campaign of the year. But how about those Slowski ads with the turtles who prefer DSL because it’s slower? Or the spooky CGI-laden ones in which people use broadband to do the dishes faster (if only)? Let’s face it: This stuff is well done. And better yet, it communicates exactly what triple-play customers need to know about cable and why they should switch (or stay with Comcast despite offers from new competitors). Comcast has literally transformed its public image from boring cable company to a 21st-Century maverick that sells cool tech and content. Davis deserves much of the credit. Other cable operators should thank him as well; Comcast’s successful marketing is yet another factor helping to change the public's perception of the entire industry. That helps everyone. Well, except the telcos. - MG

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Favorite restaurant: Del Frisco’s
Favorite city: Atlanta
Favorite line from a movie or TV show: “I love winning! You know, like it’s better than losing!”  Nuke LaLoosh, “Bull Durham”
Favorite TV show: “Boston Legal”
Favorite sports team: Atlanta Braves
Favorite piece of tech: DVR
Least favorite piece of tech: “Bluetooth earphones.”
The world would be a better place if: “People would accept/believe that someone else’s differing religious beliefs is not a threat to or persecution of your beliefs.”

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