WONYA LUCAS NAMED CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF DISCOVERY CHANNEL AND SCIENCE CHANNEL
Discovery Communications announced today that Wonya Lucas has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Discovery Channel and Science Channel. Effective immediately, Lucas will lead the strategy and operations for the networks and work across the functional departments to ensure growth for the business units. In addition to operations, her role has been expanded to include oversight of the networks' research and marketing departments.
Ms. Lucas succeeds Tom Cosgrove who has been appointed President and CEO of the Discovery, Sony and IMAX 3D Television network. She moves into the COO role for the flagship brand from her position as Chief Marketing Officer for Discovery Communications where she provided brand strategy leadership and coordination across Discovery's global businesses. Discovery Communications will begin an internal and external search to replace Ms. Lucas as CMO.
"Wonya's depth of expertise across every network function make her an invaluable addition to our leadership team," said Clark Bunting, President and General Manager of Discovery Channel and President of Science Channel, to whom Lucas reports. "Bringing her critical eye to our business processes and her understanding of evolving brands to our networks will be key to driving us towards future growth across Discovery Channel and Science Channel."
Prior to joining Discovery Communications in 2008, Lucas served as General Manager and Executive Vice President of The Weather Channel Networks, where she was responsible for corporate strategy and development, strategic marketing for The Weather Channel and weather.com, and operations and programming for The Weather Channel, The Weather Channel HD, Weatherscan, The Weather Channel Radio Network, and newspaper syndication.
Before joining The Weather Channel in 2002 as Executive Vice President of Marketing, Lucas held several positions at Turner Broadcasting System, including Senior Vice President of Strategic
Marketing for CNN Networks and Vice President of Business Operations and Network Development for TBS, TNT, Turner Classic Movies and Turner South. Her other experience includes brand management for The Coca-Cola Company and The Clorox Company.
Earlier this year, Lucas was named among the "75 Most Powerful Women in Business" by Black Enterprise magazine. Previous honors include listing among the 2009 "Leading Women in Business" and "Leading Minorities in Business" by Cablefax Daily, recognition as a "Woman To Watch" by Women in Cable Telecommunications, a Brand Builders Award at the 2006 Promax & BDA Conference, recognition as a "Women To Watch" in the 2005 Wonder Women of Cable TV Awards, and the Inspiration Award for "Woman of the Year" in the WICT-Atlanta's 2007 Red Letter Awards. Lucas serves on the Board of Directors of the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing and she was the co-chairperson for the 2007 CTAM Summit. She also has served as a board member for WICT, Inc and is a graduate of the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute.
Lucas will continue to be based at Discovery Communications global headquarters in Silver Spring, MD.
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