Media Executive Deborah Dugan Named CEO of (RED)

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Sep 20, 2011, 01:09 ET

NEW YORK, Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- (RED), the organization which was created by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006 to drive corporate profits into the fight against AIDS and has so far delivered over $175 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, today announced the appointment of respected media executive Deborah Dugan as CEO.

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Dugan's career spans more than 16 years of diverse and pioneering media experience. She previously served for eight years as the President of Disney Publishing Worldwide, generating $1.8 billion in global retail sales and overseeing 275 magazines and publishing more than 4,000 new book titles. At Disney, Dugan spearheaded the acquisition of Baby Einstein, launched Disney English language learning programs throughout Asia, and developed The Cheetah Girls, Artemis Fowl, and the Fairies properties.

Dugan comes to (RED) after serving as senior advisor to the Tribeca Enterprises Board, a diversified global media company based in New York that operates branded entertainment businesses, including the Tribeca Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival International, Tribeca Cinemas, and Tribeca Film. Dugan spearheaded Tribeca's investment in a digital media academy. Prior to Tribeca, she was President and Chief Executive Officer of Entertainment Rights, a publicly traded company out of London.

Dugan was also Executive Vice President at EMI/Capitol Records and previously headed legal services for Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. She started her career as a mergers-and-acquisitions attorney for a Wall Street law firm.

"We're very excited Deborah Dugan is coming to lead (RED)," said Bono. "She's got firecracking energy, great creativity, and a hardcore business background -- all very good news for us and the wider global health community."

(RED) Board member Tom Freston said, "Deborah's leadership, intelligence, passion, and creativity will be instrumental in expanding (RED) and its global impact. We have established and strengthened successful partnerships with some of the world's most exciting brands and raised over $175 million, which has impacted the lives of over 7.5 million people through Global Fund AIDS grants. Deborah's leadership will take this to the next level as we work together to achieve our business and humanitarian goals."

Dugan said, "I am energized and honored to lead (RED) at this exciting time for the organization and the fight to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic. We have in our sights a momentous goal – virtually ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV by the year 2015, which (RED) and its partner organizations will be working to help achieve. With the world's most iconic brand partners and with one of the largest digital cause communities of 2.5 million, (RED) will be engaging young people in the fight in even more provocative and innovative ways and getting them to 'be (RED)' to trigger donations from our partners."

About (RED)™and (PRODUCT) RED™

(RED) engages business and consumer power in the fight against AIDS. To date, (RED) partners and events have generated over $175 million for The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This money has supported HIV/AIDS programs that have reached more than 7.5 million people affected by AIDS in Africa. Current (PRODUCT)RED Proud Partners include: American Express (UK only), Apple, Bugaboo, Converse, Dell, Gap, Hallmark (US only), Nike, Penfolds and Starbucks and Special Edition partners include: Beats by Dr. Dre, Belvedere, Girl Skateboards, Shazam, Solange Azagury-Partridge and Timbuk2. Companies whose products take on the (PRODUCT) RED mark contribute a significant percentage of the sales or portion of the profits from that product to the Global Fund. On World AIDS Day 2010, (RED) launched "The AIDS Free Generation is Due in 2015" campaign. (RED) is joining the global health community in raising funds and awareness to help eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015 and helping to realize the first AIDS-free generation in nearly thirty years. Learn more at www.joinred.com.

About The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

The Global Fund is a unique global public/private partnership dedicated to attracting and disbursing resources to prevent and treat HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities represents a new approach to international health financing. Since its creation in 2002, the Global Fund has become the main source of finance for programs to fight these 3 diseases, with funding of USD 22.4 billion for more than 600 programs in 150 countries. It has saved 6.5 million lives, from financing local educational, prevention and treatment programs. (RED)™ is the Global Fund's largest private sector contributor. For more information visit www.theglobalfund.org.

SOURCE (RED)