Russell Banz

Vice President of Products

Russell K. Banz is the Vice President of Products for Deseret Digital Media, where he oversees the award-winning products of KSL.com and DeseretNews.com, as well as other emerging sites in the DDM portfolio. Russell has served in this position since DDM was organized in October 2009.

Prior to DDM, Russell was the Vice President of New Media for Bonneville International. In this role, he oversaw all of the interactive activities and Web sites for Bonneville-operated television and radio stations across the U.S. This role also included emerging technologies, long-term strategy and other developing business initiatives for the company. 

Russell originally joined Bonneville at KSL Television in 1996, where he was responsible for launching KSL.com, which has now grown to one of the country’s largest media Web sites. During his tenure at Bonneville and KSL.com, he garnered many industry awards for the company, including several prestigious Edward R. Murrow awards. Prior to his work at Bonneville, Russell launched an early online media company and has worked in technology, marketing and communications.

Russell was named one of Utah’s Forty Under 40 business executives by Utah Business Magazine in 2008. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in business (marketing) from Brigham Young University, cum laude, and a Master of Business Administration degree from The University of Utah. He currently lives in Salt Lake City. He and his wife, Tara, are the proud parents of four children.