Discovery Ups Jason Sarlanis as Henry Schleiff Steps Down

Discovery, Inc. has elevated Jason Sarlanis to president of crime and investigative content, linear and streaming, effective September 1.

In his new role, Sarlanis will assume leadership for the Investigation Discovery (ID) network, including leading programming development, production and content strategy and operations for true-crime series and documentaries. He also will have responsibility for the genre on discovery+. Prior to this new role, Sarlanis served as senior VP of development at TLC.

The news of Sarlanis’s promotion comes as Kevin Bennett, currently group executive VP of programming and general manager at ID, is set to depart; and Group President Henry Schleiff will be stepping down from his leadership role. Schleiff, who will be pursuing his passion for independent production, already has a first-look deal with the Discovery networks.

Other shakeups include Howard Lee, president of TLC Streaming and Network Originals, adding Travel Channel to his responsibilities. Matt Butler, general manager of Travel Channel, will report to Lee. Sarlanis, who previously reported to Lee, now will report directly to Kathleen Finch, chief lifestyle brands officer at Discovery, Inc.

Finch said: “Jason is a brilliant content creator and an exceptionally smart strategist, so putting him in charge of the crime and investigative group is the right move. He is one of our most insightful, creative and passionate storytellers, and his skillset is an ideal complement to the work we’re doing in this genre. His forward-looking leadership and track record with hits like Keeping Up With the Kardashians and the 90 Day Fiancé juggernaut is exactly what we need as we expand our crime content on both linear and discovery+.

“Henry Schleiff is a changemaker, a risk-taker and a company and industry legend,” Finch continued. “His creative vision brought decades of success to our networks, and we will miss having his influence and voice in the room. We are grateful that we had a creative visionary with us for so many years.”