A&E Promotes 4, Hires 1 in Key Roles

BBC veteran Jana Bennett will serve as president of the company's bio. and LMN networks

A&E Networks has hired BBC veteran Jana Bennett as president of the company's bio. and LMN networks, and promoted four others, the company announced Monday.

Bennett served as president of BBC Worldwide Networks & Global BBC iPlayer at BBC Worldwide, and also served as EVP/GM of TLC Network and Discovery Pictures.

In addition to Bennett's hiring, the network has promoted Robert DeBitetto to president, brand strategy, business development of A&E Studios. Dirk Hoogstra has been promoted to executive vice president of general manager of History and H2, while David McKillop has been made executive vice president and general manager of A&E and Robert Sharenow is now Lifetime's executive vice president and general manager.

In his new position DeBitetto, who previously served as president and general manager of the A&E and bio.networks, will oversee A&E Studios and also oversee cross-network brand strategy for A&E Networks' corporate initiatives and business development.

Hoogstra previously served as executive vice president, development and programming for History and H2, while McKillop was executive vice president, programming for A&E and bio. Sharenow was executive vice president of programming for Lifetime networks. They will now be responsible for strategic programming and development for their respective networks, with the marketing and brad development teams reporting directly to them.

Bennett will oversee the development, strategies, marketing and brand development for bio. and LMN.

"These are the people who have led their teams for some of the biggest successes on television over the last two years, including 'Hatfields & McCoys,' 'The Bible,' 'Duck Dynasty' 'Bates Motel,' 'Storage Wars,' 'Dance Moms,' 'Client List' and 'Steel Magnolias,'" A&E Networks president and CEO Nancy Dubuc said of the promotions, adding, "I am extremely pleased that we are entrusting them to take our flagship brands into the next phase of our success."

Of Bennett, Dubuc said, "I couldn't be more excited that Jana is joining A&E Networks. She is an experienced industry veteran who knows how to build and grow brands and create long-running franchises. I am looking forward to her success in this new role."

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