KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gina L. Bianchini, a social networking pioneer and entrepreneur, has been elected to serve on the board of directors of Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. (NYSE: SNI).
Bianchini, 39, is the founder of Mighty Software Inc., a company based in Palo Alto, Calif., that creates social software solutions. Bianchini and her team at Mighty Software are currently beta testing a social network website called Mightybell (www.mightybell.com) where users share experiences as they engage in a wide range of special interests, hobbies or activities.
“Gina Bianchini’s expertise, vision and creativity in the rapidly evolving world of social networking make her uniquely qualified to serve on the Scripps Networks Interactive board,” said Kenneth W. Lowe, the company’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. “The company and its shareholders are certain to benefit from her valuable insight and guidance as we develop new interactive businesses and explore opportunities to create and deliver our brand of lifestyle content on innovative digital platforms.”
Prior to founding Mighty Software, Bianchini was chief executive officer of Ning, a social platform she co-founded in 2004 that enables users to create unique social experiences online. Bianchini guided Ning through March 2010 to its status as one of the fastest growing early social platforms and top 100 global websites.
Bianchini created Ning after co-founding and serving as president of Harmonic Communications, an advertising tracking, measurement and optimization company that was acquired by Dentsu. Earlier in her career, she oversaw acquisitions, equity investments and new business development for CKS Group, a marketing software company. She began her career at Goldman Sachs & Co. as a financial analyst in its high technology group.
“The marketing power of Scripps Networks Interactive brands and the remarkably high level of engagement the company’s networks and websites achieve with media consumers create a multitude of intriguing opportunities in a world that becomes more interactive every day,” Bianchini said. “I’m looking forward to working with the management team as a member of the company’s board as they guide the business into a very promising and exciting future.”
Bianchini graduated with honors from Stanford University and earned her master’s degree in business administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2000.
About Scripps Networks Interactive
Scripps Networks Interactive is one of the leading developers of lifestyle-oriented content for television and the Internet, where on-air programming is complemented with online video, social media areas and e-commerce components on companion websites and broadband vertical channels. The company’s media portfolio includes popular lifestyle television and Internet brands HGTV, Food Network, Travel Channel, DIY Network, Cooking Channel and country music network Great American Country.