Discovery Channel Expands Development and Production Group With Key Executive Appointments and New Hires
March 24, 2008
(Silver Spring, Md.) Discovery Channel announced today executive appointments and a new structure to create three-city base for development and production. The announcement was made by Jeff Hasler, Senior Vice President of Development and Production to whom the US development and production teams report.
Gena McCarthy has been appointed Vice President, Development & Current Programming and is based in Silver Spring; Beth Dietrich Segarra has been appointed Vice President of Development based in New York; and Elli Hakami continues her role as Vice President of Development based in Los Angeles. Liz Brach assumes the role of Vice President of Production and is based in Silver Spring.
"The new structure clarifies roles and responsibilities, streamlines our operation strengthens our presence in New York and Los Angeles, where so many U.S. production companies are based," said Hasler. "With Gena in Silver Spring, Beth in New York and Elli in Los Angeles, we can guarantee face-to-face interaction with our U.S. production companies and move quickly to light up high-quality projects for Discovery Channel."
Gena McCarthy returns to Discovery Channel after a recent stint at WE tv in New York. In her newly formed role as Vice President, Development & Current Programming, she will lead the network's overall development strategy and manage first-run productions, including pilots and new series. A veteran of Discovery Channel and TLC, McCarthy previously executive produced Dirty Jobs, Deadliest Catch, MythBusters, and Junkyard Mega-Wars. While at WE tv, she oversaw the production of hit bridal and true-life series, including Bridezillas, Platinum Weddings, and Wedding Central, as well as Women Behind Bars, Secret Lives of Women and John Edward Cross Country.
To further bolster the Development team, Beth Dietrich Segarra joins the group as Vice President of Development based in New York. Segarra comes to Discovery Channel from A&E Television Networks where she served as Vice President, Historical Programming for The History Channel, and developed some of History’s biggest hits such as The Universe, Gangland and the Emmy-nominated Star Wars: A Legacy Revealed. In her years with History she also oversaw the production of more than 400 episodes of the landmark series Modern Marvels.
To ensure the highest quality end product, Liz Brach assumes the role of Vice President of Production and leads the newly consolidated Production group for Discovery Channel, focusing on returning series, limited series and one-off specials. Brach was most recently Vice President of Creative Content for Discovery Channel and Science Channel and has held various posts at Discovery Channel, developing and overseeing production on projects such as Shark Week, Egypt's Lost Queen, and developing Futureweapons and Most Evil. Prior to Discovery, Brach was an independent producer with credits on Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, TLC and National Geographic Channel.
Elli Hakami, Vice President of Development, continues to oversee West Coast development in Discovery’s Los Angeles office. Hakami joined Discovery in 2006 from Court TV where she was senior director of program development. Prior to Court TV, Hakami worked on a wide variety of nonfiction programming in HBO’s Original Programming, Documentary department, and served as an editor on TLC’s Trauma: Real Life in the ER series.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications is the world’s number-one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks. Discovery Communications is owned by Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.