Discovery Communications has appointed former Shine America CEO and Disney executive Rich Ross as President, Discovery Channel.
Ross will join Discovery Communications in January 2015, and will be based at the company’s LA office. Ross will oversee creative and brand strategy, development, production, marketing and all day-to-day operations for the network. He will report to David Zaslav, President and CEO of Discovery Communications.
Ross joins Discovery from Shine America, where in his role as CEO since 2013, he has driven the ongoing commercial strategy of Shine Group’s US operations. He has overseen all aspects of Shine America’s production, distribution and marketing of original programming across broadcast, cable and digital platforms, including such programs as MasterChef and MasterChef Junior (FOX), The Biggest Loser (NBC), The Face (Oxygen), Restaurant Startup (CNBC), Fake-Off (TruTV) and Peabody Award-winning The Bridge (FX), Gracepoint (FOX) and the upcoming drama Utopia (HBO).
“Rich is one of the most creative storytellers, ratings drivers, brand builders and TV executives in the industry today,” said Zaslav. “On top of being just a great guy, Rich also is mission driven, with a commitment to quality, blue-chip programming and is a terrific fit with Discovery. I am confident that with his experience, relationships and creative leadership, Rich can lead Discovery to its next great chapter in innovative, groundbreaking television.”
Prior to joining Shine America, Ross had a successful career at The Walt Disney Company from 1996 to 2012, most recently in the role as Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios.
