New COO of Discovery Channel & Discovery Science

SILVER SPRING: Wonya Lucas has been named executive VP and chief operating officer for Discovery Channel and Discovery Science, succeeding Tom Cosgrove, who has been appointed to lead the new Discovery, Sony and IMAX 3-D network.

Lucas will head up the strategy and operations for the networks, working across the functional departments to ensure growth for the business units. In addition to operations, her role includes oversight of the networks’ research and marketing departments. Effective immediately, Lucas moves into the COO role for the flagship Discovery brand from her post as chief marketing officer for Discovery Communications. The company will begin an internal and external search to fill the CMO post.

Prior to joining Discovery, Lucas was the general manager and executive VP of The Weather Channel networks. Prior to The Weather Channel, which she originally joined as executive VP of marketing, Lucas held several positions at Turner Broadcasting System, including as senior VP of strategic marketing for CNN networks and VP of business operations and network development for TBS, TNT, Turner Classic Movies and Turner South.

"Wonya’s depth of expertise across every network function make her an invaluable addition to our leadership team," said Clark Bunting, the president and general manager of Discovery Channel and president of Science Channel, to whom Lucas reports. "Bringing her critical eye to our business processes and her understanding of evolving brands to our networks will be key to driving us towards future growth across Discovery Channel and Science Channel."