Sarah Barnett Tapped to Lead BBC America

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NEW YORK: SundanceTV's Sarah Barnett has been named president and general manager of BBC America, with current chief Perry Simon moving into an exclusive production deal with BBC Worldwide North America.

The move comes after AMC Networks became co-owner of the channel. Barnett will also remain in charge of SundanceTV until a successor is named. She will lead BBC America's day-to-day operations, reporting to Ed Carroll, COO of AMC Networks. The appointment marks Barnett's return to the channel where she started her career.

“Sarah has had a remarkable tenure guiding SundanceTV through a dramatic evolution, taking the network ad-supported and establishing it as a formidable player in the scripted drama space,” said Carroll. “Sarah’s appetite for creative risk-taking and her strong leadership skills are well suited to this new role and we look forward to her building on BBC America’s successes, as the network continues to establish itself as a showcase for high quality shows that resonate with critics and audiences alike.”

Tim Davie, CEO of BBC Worldwide, said: “She has a fantastic track record in the kind of intelligent, creative content that is BBC America's hallmark. And as a highly respected, collaborative team leader I have every confidence she will deliver success for both joint-venture partners.”

Last month, AMC Networks picked up 49.9 percent of BBC America from BBC Worldwide and assumed operational control of the channel.