BET Networks President of Original Programming Loretha Jones is leaving the company, TheWrap has learned. Jones informed the company of her decision on Friday.
Darrell Walker, executive vice president and general counsel, will assume day-to-day operations for programming until a replacement is announced. Stephen Hill, president of Music Programming and Specials, will remain in his current role along with the newly appointed Pete Danielsen, executive vice president of Program Planning, Scheduling and Acquisitions.
“Over the course of my career at Viacom, I have had an amazing opportunity to work with some of the finest creative people in the business and oversee a slate of original programming that makes me extremely proud,” Jones told TheWrap. “It’s been an incredible journey at BET Networks and I am grateful for the experience.”
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Jones spent six years at BET Networks, where she oversaw its first-ever scripted drama, “Being Mary Jane” and show “The Game,” among others. She also led development of BET’s first miniseries, “The Book of Negroes.”
She also locked the deal for the network’s sister channel Centric’s first scripted series, “Single Ladies,” in partnership with Queen Latifah and Shakim Compere’s Flavor Unit Entertainment.
Jones will stay on with BET Networks as creative consultant.
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Prior to joining BET, Jones served as executive vice president of MTV Films/Paramount Pictures. Before that, she was senior vice president of MTV Films/MTV Home Entertainment, overseeing development, production, music and marketing for multiple feature film, television and home video projects for the MTV and CMT brands.
“BET Networks thanks Ms. Jones for her many contributions, on screen and off, and looks forward to a continued creative collaboration,” the company said in a statement.