New Discovery Studios Hire & Expanded Role at TLC

LOS ANGELES: Discovery Communications has revealed that Sandy Varo Jarrell has become the senior VP of creative at in-house production arm Discovery Studios, while Howard Lee is taking on an expanded role at TLC.

In her newly created position, Varo Jarrell will supervise the creative aspects of development and production of all content for Discovery Studios. She will be charged with originating and developing projects for network clients and managing the creative direction of all Discovery Studios projects. She will work under Marc Graboff, the president of global business and legal affairs, production management and studios.

Varo Jarrell previously served as senior VP of production and development at TLC, where she oversaw 400 hours of original programming, including such hits as Say Yes to the Dress, Little People Big World, My 600lb Life, Our Little Family and I Am Jazz. Before that, she was the head of unscripted programming and development at ABC Family.

Graboff commented: "Sandy brings a wealth of experience to Discovery Studios, having worked both inside the Discovery Networks group as well as at other networks and production companies. We are confident that her leadership skills, knowledge and deep expertise, combined with our talented crew of creative executives, will generate compelling content across our entire portfolio."

Meanwhile, Lee has been given an expanded role at TLC, where he serves as executive VP of development and production for the East Coast. His new post will include oversight of the channel's entire production and development programming slate originating from the Los Angeles, New York and Silver Spring offices. He will work directly under Nancy Daniels, TLC's president and general manager. Lee will also continue his duties as general manager of Discovery Life Channel, which also sees him reporting to Daniels. TLC's West Coast development and production teams, led by Elvia Van Es Oliva (VP of development) and Jack Tarantino (VP of production), will now report to Lee.

Over the past year, Lee has overseen more than 300 hours of original series and programming, including Who Do You Think You Are? and Sex Sent Me to the ER, among others. He first joined TLC in 2008 and previously served as VP of development and production for the 2007 launch of Planet Green. Earlier in his career, he was the VP of development for Travel Channel.

​"Howard's creative leadership has resulted in some of TLC's biggest hit series, while his remarkable storytelling abilities and nurturing of larger-than-life personalities have helped TLC remain atop of pop culture," said Daniels. "He knows our audience and loves our brand and I am thrilled to have Howard as a creative partner overseeing all our content."