(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — As part of the growing changes at ABC Daytime, the Disney/ABC Television Group has announced Mirian Arias as its new Vice President, Daytime Communications. Arias replaces Jori Petersen, who headed up the division for a number of years in the role of Vice President, Publicity, ABC Daytime and SOAPnet. Although Petersen has left ABC Daytime and SOAPnet, she remains part of the Disney/ABC Television Group as the acting head of the ABC Family Communications team.

RESPECTED COMMUNICATIONS EXECUTIVE MIRIAN ARIAS NAMED

VICE PRESIDENT, DAYTIME COMMUNICATIONS, DISNEY/ABC TELEVISION GROUP

Wednesday, October 26, 2011, Burbank, CA . . . Respected Communications executive Mirian Arias has been named as the new vice president, Daytime Communications, Disney/ABC Television Group (DATG), it was announced today by Kevin Brockman, executive vice president, Global Communications, DAT G, to whom she will report.

Working closely with Brian Frons, president, Daytime, DATG, Ms. Arias will be responsible for all communication efforts for DATG Daytime, SOAPnet and ABC Media Productions, including corporate, consumer, marketing and affiliate-related publicity.  She will also oversee all talent relation efforts for the division.

In making the announcement, Mr. Brockman said “Mirian’s extensive background in consumer communications combined with her more recent experience heading up digital communications for Syfy and iVillage make her the perfect candidate for this role.  As important, Mirian is also regarded as a consummate strategist and an honorable and inclusive leader, all traits that will serve us well as we evolve our Daytime programming and corresponding communications initiatives.”

Mr. Frons added, “Mirian is a strategic public relations executive with the proven ability to innovate, build partnerships and lead a team.   She has extensive experience liaising across business units to make the most of synergy opportunities, and I’m glad to have her leading our communications efforts.”

“I am thrilled to join such an amazing team of creative and strategic communication leaders,” said Ms. Arias.  “ABC has a long-standing history of creating many of the most celebrated, acclaimed and award-winning programs in daytime, and I look forward to being a part of the next evolution of the brand.”

Ms. Arias joins DATG from NBCUniversal, where she worked since 2009.  Most recently, she served as vice president, Communications, iVillage, overseeing both external and internal communications for the essential digital women’s brand.  During her tenure, she more than doubled iVillage’s press penetration across broadcast, print, radio, digital and social media outreach.  She began her career at NBCU as director, Communications, Syfy, where she was responsible for publicity efforts for the networks highest rated original series, Warehouse 13, along with other successful programming like Stargate Universe and Scare Tactics.  In this role she also spearheaded publicity efforts for Syfy Digital, including tier digital sites Sci Fi Wire, Dvice and Fidget.

Prior to her stint at NBCU, Ms. Arias served as director of communications at Nickelodeon Networks where she was responsible for daily publicity on many of their hit programs including iCarly, True Jackson, VP, The Naked Brothers Band and Degrassi: The Next Generation.  She also spent five years at Oxygen Media, where she was responsible for the communication campaigns for shows including Oprah After The Show, Conversations from the Edge With Carrie Fisher and The Janice Dickinson Project.  She also served as international unit publicist for all Oxygen made-for-television movies including Romancing the Bride, Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber and Nadine in Date Land.

She began her career in communications at BWR Public Relations, where she handled publicity efforts for an array of film and television actors as well as corporate clients such as the Nantucket Film Festival, NIKE Entertainment and Source Enterprises.  Educated at Boston University, with a degree in Mass Communications and Public Relations, Ms. Arias is a member of WICT, EPPS, NAMIC and PRSA, and currently serves as a citizen teacher for Citizen Schools, a non-profit NYC inner-city school initiative.