Peter Liguori Exiting Discovery

SILVER SPRING: Discovery Communications’ chief operating officer, Peter Liguori, is leaving the company at the end of the year, with the COO role to be eliminated after his departure.

Liguori has been with Discovery since 2009, during which time he was responsible for launching a number of creative and brand marketing initiatives. He oversaw the successful launches of Discovery’s joint ventures in The Hub, OWN and 3net. Prior to Discovery, Liguori served as the chairman of entertainment for Fox Broadcasting Company, the president and CEO of FX Networks, the senior VP of marketing for a joint venture at Fox and senior VP of marketing at HBO.

David Zaslav, Discovery’s president and CEO, said: "Pete’s leadership, enthusiasm and creative vision have brought a fresh and important perspective to Discovery. Around the world, our programming, marketing and promotional efforts have greatly benefited from his energy, experience and creative eye. I am particularly grateful to Pete for tackling some pretty challenging special assignments, including the launches of our joint-venture networks—The Hub, OWN and 3net. Pete is just a terrific guy and talented executive, and I want to thank him for the many significant contributions he has made at all levels of Discovery Communications."

Liguori commented: "My time at Discovery has been incredibly rewarding. Every day I was inspired to work alongside highly talented and hard-working staff who never ceased to surprise with their passion, expertise and commitment. It has been a privilege to have contributed to Discovery’s mission and to have helped so many networks and brands grow their ambition and accelerate their creative momentum. My best to all the wonderful members of the senior management team and, in particular, to the employees at all levels of the organization who come in every day thinking of the new idea, the story that hasn’t been told yet. A special word of gratitude to David Zaslav for his partnership and friendship and for giving me the opportunity to stretch new creative muscles in the nonfiction space. I wish David and all my friends at Discovery continued success in the years to come."