Jim Samples

James Donald Samples Jr. (born 1963) is an American businessman and media executive. He is best known as the Senior Vice President and General Manager of TNT Latin America and Cartoon Network Latin America from 2000 to 2001, the General Manager and Executive Vice President of The Cartoon Network, Inc. (TCN) from 2001 to 2007, the President of HGTV from 2007 to 2011, the President of Scripps Networks International since 2011, and the President of the Management Board at TVN Group from 2016 to 2018. In 2019 joined Gremi Media SA.

Early life Samples was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. After graduating with a Bachelor's degree from Presbyterian College, he received a Master's degree in International Business Studies from the University of South Carolina.

Career NationsBank From 1989 to 1993, Samples was a relationship manager, international examination department vice president, and manager at NationsBank.

Turner Broadcasting System Samples spent nearly fourteen years with Turner Broadcasting System in various leadership capacities spanning affiliate sales, marketing, programming and digital media. He started his career at Turner in international business development in 1993 and then became the President of Turner International Argentina, based in Buenos Aires, the following year. While Cartoon Network intended to produce future shows that blend live action with animation as well as "cartoony" live-action shows, Samples maintained "we're predominately an animated network and that's not changing anytime soon."

Samples resigned from the company on February 9, 2007, following a bomb scare in Boston caused by packages left around the city that were part of an outdoor marketing campaign promoting the Adult Swim series Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Samples made the decision "in recognition of the gravity of the situation that occurred under my watch", and with the "hope that my decision allows us to put this chapter behind us and get back to our mission of delivering unrivaled original animated entertainment for consumers of all ages". Following Samples's resignation, Stuart Snyder was named his successor.

HGTV After his resignation, Samples transferred to Scripps Networks Interactive. He was appointed President of HGTV (later became part of Warner Bros. Discovery together with TVN Group on April 8, 2022 that also owns the previous Turner properties he worked on including The Cartoon Network, Inc.) in 2007

Other ventures Samples also sits on the boards of the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts and Presbyterian College.

Personal life Samples currently lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with his wife and two daughters.