Discovery Elevates Veterans to EVP Roles

Discovery Channel has promoted Scott Lewers to executive VP of multiplatform programming and digital media, while Jennifer Williams will take on a newly created role.

Lewers will now be responsible for Discovery’s content strategy and schedule, research/insights, multiplatform live content and pre-shows, as well as the overall digital strategy for Discovery and Science Channel. Lewers will continue to be based in Los Angeles and report directly to Nancy Daniels, chief brand officer for Discovery and factual. He most recently served as senior VP of multiplatform programming and digital media at TLC. Prior to TLC, Lewers was Discovery Channel’s senior VP of programming.

In her new role as the executive VP of global talent management and brand strategy and operations for Discovery and factual, Williams will lead the global talent management and operations teams in New York, Los Angeles, Knoxville, London and Maryland, supporting Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel, as well as Eurosport and Discovery’s International brands, among others.

Williams will also be responsible for developing and driving the network’s factual (Discovery Channel and Science Channel) overarching business strategies and operational efficiencies, serving as a key network partner and liaison for ad sales, finance, distribution and digital. She will also execute special projects and develop partnership opportunities.

Williams will also expand her leadership by managing the strategic alignment of all revenue-related functions, including ad sales, affiliate sales, international and finance, and overseeing the alignment of business needs and strategies related to production, content, rights, talent and time-buys. She will  help connect various business areas to ensure continuity and work closely with those business areas and outside producers, agents and related talent across each of the networks. Williams will evaluate brand strategies and priorities, and act as the operational lead on all key corporate initiatives. She will be based in New York City, dually reporting to Daniels and David Leavy, chief corporate operations and communications officer for Discovery Communications.

Williams most recently served as head of global talent management and operations, leading a team that oversees more than 2,000 of Discovery Communications’ on-air talent around the globe. Williams’ talent management career has seen her work on Discovery series such as Gold Rush, Deadliest Catch, MythBusters, Alaskan Bush People, Fast N’ Loud, Shark Week and Alaska the Last Frontier; Animal Planet’s The Crocodile Hunter; and TLC’s Cake Boss, Trading Spaces, Say Yes to the Dress, The Little Couple, Kate Plus 8, Counting On and Sister Wives.

“Scott and Jennifer know what it takes for a network to run successfully,” said Daniels. “I’m thrilled to have Scott take on an even greater creative role as we build out our multiplatform and digital strategy. Jennifer has been my go-to person across the various network business areas, and I greatly rely on her strong and strategic point of view.”