TV One Names Wonya Lucas President & CEO

SILVER SPRING: TV One has appointed Wonya Lucas, who joins from Discovery Channel and Science Channel, as president and CEO, effective August 8.

Lucas was previously the executive VP and COO for Discovery Channel and Science Channel, where she was responsible for strategy and operations for the networks, as well as overseeing the networks’ research and marketing departments. Lucas joined Discovery Communications in 2008 as chief marketing officer.

Before her stint at Discovery, Lucas was executive VP and general manager of The Weather Channel Networks, in charge of corporate strategy and development, strategic marketing for The Weather Channel and weather.com, as well as operations and programming for the channel, among other roles.

Alfred Liggins, the chairman of TV One and president and CEO of Radio One, said: "Wonya Lucas is the perfect choice to help us build on the terrific success we have achieved at TV One over the past seven years. Her successful career as a top-level, mainstream cable programming executive will be invaluable to us as we continue to grow the network and the company. Her expertise in marketing some of the best brands in television will also be a tremendous plus as we continue to define and strengthen TV One’s brand in a constantly evolving media marketplace."   

Of the appointment, Lucas added: "It’s an incredible opportunity to lead TV One, which in just a few years has become such a success story. I am also personally passionate about TV One’s mission to provide high quality entertainment and information to the African American audience that authentically reflects our lives, history and culture."

Lucas continued: "Through the leadership of Johnathan Rodgers, TV One is well positioned for the future and has tremendous growth potential. I look forward to working with Alfred Liggins, Cathy Hughes, and the TV One staff, as well as Comcast and NBCU to chart the network on a path to achieve even greater success in the years ahead."