Fox COO Joe Earley's Role Expanded in Development and Programming Reorganization

Fox Broadcasting Company is combining and reorganizing its development and programming functions.

Under the new structure, the Comedy Development & Programming and Drama Development & Programming teams will report directly to chief operating officer Joe Earley. The development side used to report into network chief Kevin Reilly.

On the comedy side, Suzanna Makkos has been elevated to executive vice president, where she will oversee the network’s comedy development and series coverage. Lauren Levy Neustadter, who has been promoted to senior vice president, and Samata Narra, who has been promoted to Vice President, will serve as Makkos’ senior staff.

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In the drama unit, Terence Carter has been elevated to executive vice president and will lead the network’s drama development and programming initiatives. Carter‘s key staff will include Charlie Andrews, who has been elevated to senior vice president, as well as senior vice president James Oh.

The network’s Event Series team will continue to be led by senior vice president Shana C. Waterman.

“To be a network of the future, we not only need to contemporize the way we do business, but also build the best teams to support that business,” Earley said in a statement. “Combining our development and programming functions allows us to provide more cohesive support to shows — from inception to finale — and forge even deeper, more collaborative relationships with the creative community. Suzanna and Terence are both gifted executives who — in true Fox spirit — aren’t afraid to take big creative swings.”

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Carter was previously senior vice president, Drama Development at Fox, where he oversaw the development of network hits, including “Sleepy Hollow.” Makkos served as senior vice president, Comedy Development for Fox, where she cultivated live-action and animated comedies, including “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” Charlie Andrews was vice president, Drama Development for Fox, where he developed multiple acclaimed series for the network from pitch to air, including “The Following.”

Lauren Levy Neustadter previously served as vice president of Current Programming for Fox, where she helped oversee all aspects of production and served as a primary creative adviser for new and returning series. Samata Narra was vice president of Comedy Development at Fox and was responsible for helping launch new live-action and animated half-hour comedy series.

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