AMC Networks hired Dan McDermott and David Beck to lead the company’s programming division, with McDermott as Original Programming Chief and Beck overseeing Programming Strategy and Business Operations. “These two outstanding leaders arrive as we reshape our company to put our passionate audiences and premium content at the heart of our operations,” Entertainment Networks Group president Sarah Barnett said. “Nobody can thrive today in our fast-moving industry without a nimble structure and exceptional teams led by outstanding people, that’s what we’re building at AMC Networks.”
McDermott will be replacing David Madden, who led programming for AMC’s Entertainment Networks and AMC Studios until last year when Barnett became President of the company. Both Beck and McDermott will report to her. Based in Los Angeles, McDermott will serve as co-president along with Stefan Reinhard, who is in charge of business operations and studio production. His responsibilities will include content creation across the group’s network brands including BBC America, IFC, Sundance TV, and AMC Studios.
Beck, who previously worked at Warner Media as an EVP of strategy and operations, will serve as executive vice president and head of programming strategy and business operations. Beck will lead the Entertainment Group’s linear and digital programming strategy, scheduling and acquisitions group, digital content and operations including AVOD, TVE, and AMC Premiere, along with certain brand and functional areas across AMC, BBC America, IFC, and SundanceTV.
Mcdermott oversaw series such as “In Living Color,” “The Simpsons,” “Married with Children” and “Beverly Hills 90210” during his time at Fox, where he served as EVP of programming. He previously worked for Dreamworks TV, ABC and Lionsgate TV, where he contributed to new projects and operations, identified, co-developed and co-funded scripted formats and original IP for the US market. He also led the studio’s scripted partnership with BBC Studios. Mcdermott previously partnered with Lorenzo di Bonaventura to launch a TV firm that led to the production of series such as “Zero Hour,” “The Real O’Neals,” and the upcoming “Jupiter’s Legacy” for Netflix.
These two outstanding leaders arrive as we reshape our company to put our passionate audiences and premium content at the heart of our operations. Nobody can thrive today in our fast-moving industry without a nimble structure and exceptional teams led by outstanding people, that’s what we’re building at AMC Networks. ” Entertainment Networks Group Sarah Barnett