Changes in the executive suite at National Geographic Channels bring digital experience to the fore. Taking over as president of National Geographic Channels US is Howard T. Owens, who most recently was a founding partner and a lead managing director at Reveille LLC, with responsibility for reality and scripted television, digital and branding, production, legal and finance.
Owens (pictured) succeeds Steve Schiffman, who had been with the company since 2002, effective immediately. This and other changes were announced by David Lyle, chief executive officer, National Geographic Channels US and Global Programming, who assumed his responsibilities in August.
Lyle also named Courteney Monroe to the newly created position of chief marketing officer for the U.S. channels. She joins the company in January from HBO, where she was executive vice president, Consumer Marketing and Digital Platforms.
Additionally, Lyle promoted Michael Cascio to executive vice president, Programming for National Geographic Channel US. Owens and Monroe will report to Lyle, while Cascio will report to Owens.
The company’s domestic channels, owned jointly by the Fox Networks Group and the National Geographic Society, include the National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD and Nat Geo Mundo.
“I am delighted to have superb executives like Howard, Courteney and Michael in these critical roles for our networks as we build on the success of our highest-rated summer in NGC’s history,” Lyle said in a statement. “I have known Howard for more than a decade, and I am confident he is the right person at the right time to take our network into our next era. His leadership, creativity, passion and vision are unmatched in this business, and is just what we need to drive our networks forward.”
