Restructure at Discovery’s U.S. Networks

SILVER SPRING: Eileen O’Neill, who currently heads up TLC, has added Discovery Channel U.S. to her remit, while Marjorie Kaplan is now in charge of both Animal Planet and Science Channel and Investigation Discovery’s Henry Schleiff is taking over the Emerging Networks group.

O’Neill fills the newly created position of group president of Discovery and TLC Networks. She has been president and general manager of TLC since 2008, overseeing the tremendous growth of the lifestyle network. She previously oversaw the launch of Planet Green and headed up Discovery Health.

Announcing the elevation, David Zaslav, president and CEO of Discovery Communications, commented, “Eileen is a home-grown Discovery talent with a 21-year track record of success that is nothing short of astounding. Each network she led has been infused with creativity, innovation and content that breaks through the clutter of the television landscape. Most recently, her big, bold swings at TLC have transformed that network and driven it into the top 10 for women with an incredible 31 series averaging more than 1 million viewers in 2010. We’re so proud and privileged to have Eileen at this company and I am confident her leadership will drive our biggest engines—Discovery Channel and TLC—to even greater success.”

With the restructure, Clark Bunting, president and general manager of Discovery Channel, will report to O’Neill, as will Edward Sabin, TLC’s COO and interim general manager.

Also at Discovery Communications, Marjorie Kaplan has been tapped as president of Animal Planet and Science Channel. Debbie Myers, general manager of Science Channel, will report to Kaplan, who has headed up Animal Planet as president and general manager since 2007.

Henry Schleiff, president and general manager of Investigation Discovery (ID) and Military Networks, will assume new responsibilities for Discovery’s Emerging Networks, Planet Green and FitTV. Laura Michalchyshyn, president and general manager of the Emerging Networks, will report to Schleiff, who has been with the company since 2009.

“Both Marjorie and Henry are outstanding creative executives with a proven knack for developing compelling characters and stories that resonate with viewers," Zaslav said. "I look forward to them bringing this same innovative and energetic approach to strengthen and grow our other U.S. brands."