FX is marking its expansion by naming three new presidents.
With John Landgraf promoted this week to CEO of FX Networks and FX Productions, the network announced that longtime executives Nick Grad, Eric Schrier and Chuck Saftler will now serve as presidents. Landgraf was previously the president and general manager of both entities.
Grad and Schrier will both serve as president of original programming for FX Networks and FX Productions. They will oversee all original programming for FX, FXX and FXM, FX's movie channel. They will also head business and entertainment operations for FX Productions.
Saftler (pictured at left) will serve as president of program strategy and chief operating officer of FX Networks. He will have oversight of programming strategies including scheduling and acquisitions, program operations, business operations, and digital operations for FX, FXX, FXM, and the new video-on-demand app FXNOW, working with FX Digital Marketing. He will also oversee specials including awards shows, and continue to oversee “10/90” series.
“Nick, Eric and Chuck have been involved in every facet of FX’s success over the past decade," Landgraf said. "It is only appropriate to see them each take on more responsibility as we pursue an ambitious expansion of our channels, programming and distribution platforms. While it is hard at times to step back from some of the day-to-day creative dialogues I love so much, it makes it easier when trusted colleagues and long-time partners are stepping up. It is my honor to work with them.”
"These three guys are going to have a lot of authority to make key decisions," Landgraf noted during a conference with reporters on Thursday.
During the conference, Landgraf emphasized that the "vast majority" of the staff — Grad, Schrier and Saftler included — will work on FX, FXX and FXM as part of a collaborative philosophy. While Landgraf said it "would be more traditional to put one person in charge of each channel," he noted, "I just don't believe in those kind of structures."
Grad (pictured at right) previously served as executive vice president of original programming and development for FX. Schrier was executive vice president of FX Productions and head of series development for FX. Saftler previously held the title of executive vice president of FX Networks and general manager of FXM, formerly Fox Movie Channel.
Grad joined FX as Vice President of Series Development in May of 2002. Since becoming head of the network’s original programming in 2005, he has developed FX’s new "Americans" and upcoming "The Bridge," as well as "American Horror Story," "Sons of Anarchy," "Justified," "Louie."
Schrier (below left) joined FX in September 1999 as an assistant to then-president of entertainment, Kevin Reilly. In June 2001, he was promoted to manager of current series, and a year later became director of current series. He was elevated to vice president of current series and alternative programming in March 2004, and in December 2005 was named senior vice president FX Original Programming.
In his most recent position as head of series development, he also developed shows including "The Americans," "The Bridge," "American Horror Story," "Sons of Anarchy," "Justified," and "Louie." Schrier also managed day-to-day operations for FX Productions. And he helped launch of FX Canada, the joint venture network of FX Networks and Rogers Media.
During his time as head of current series from 2001-2008, he had day-to-day oversight of all of FX’s original series.
Saftler has the longest tenure of any FX employee: He joined in December 1993 as director of scheduling, seven months before FX launched. He also helped launch the Fox Movie Channel as fXM in October 1994. He was then promoted to vice president of programming in 1996, and to senior vice president in 2000. He was next name general manager of Fox Movie Channel, and then promoted in 2006 to executive vice president of FX networks.
Among his contributions were acquiring FX the syndicated shows as "Two and a Half Men," "Mike & Molly" and "How I Met Your Mother." He also negotiated the unusual first-run and syndication deal for the comedy series "Anger Management" and "Saint George." And he has overseen FX’s interests of all UFC properties, including "The Ultimate Fighter."
