Press Release from Debmar-Mercury, Aug. 5, 2014:

Debmar-Mercury, a leading independent media company, today announced the promotion of Alexandra Jewett from senior to executive VP, programming. Working in partnership with Lonnie Burstein, who will remain as EVP, programming, the team will oversee all programming, development and production for the company.

Jewett, an award-winning creative executive and former executive producer, joined Debmar-Mercury in September 2010 and has played a pivotal role in expanding and growing the media company’s talk and game show portfolios.

Under the close watch of Jewett and Burstein, The Wendy Williams Show has grown into one of the top talkers in a crowded field, posting strong year-over-year growth and becoming a cultural phenomenon.

In her newly expanded role, Jewett, together with Burstein, will continue to oversee Wendy and the new Craig Ferguson-hosted game show Celebrity Name Game (co-produced by FremantleMedia North America), which is debuting in national syndication on Sept. 22.

“Alexandra has done a remarkable job and is a major contributor to our first-run success,” said Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus, co-presidents of Lionsgate-owned Debmar-Mercury. “With her strong creative instincts and production skills, keen eye for talent, profound understanding of the daytime audience and innate ability to effectively utilize social media, Alexandra has played a key role in turning Wendy into a rare success story. Combined with the invaluable creative contributions she has made to Celebrity Name Game and many other accomplishments, Alexandra is very deserving of this promotion and we are thrilled to have her and Lonnie lead all of our programming efforts.”

Jewett joined Debmar-Mercury from CBS Television Distribution (CTD), where she served as VP of programming and development, East Coast, beginning in 2006. There, she supported the launch of The Rachael Ray Show and the final seasons of The Montel Williams Show.

From 2004-06, Jewett created and executive produced the award-winning series Operation Homecoming for TLC—also serving as a programming consultant for the network—and Rebuilt: The Human Body Shop for Discovery Health Network.

In 2002, Jewett launched and executive produced The John Walsh Show for NBC Universal. Earlier, as executive VP of All American Communications/Orbis Entertainment, Jewett developed and adapted U.S. formats (ranging from newsmagazines to daily talk shows) for the international marketplace. She also developed, launched and executive produced highly successful talk shows for multiple territories in Europe, while serving as an executive producer for Multimedia Entertainment from 1993-96.

Jewett began her TV career as a producer for The Phil Donahue Show in 1989. The popular program garnered four Daytime Emmy® nominations for Outstanding Talk/Service Show during her four-year tenure.