Sergei Kuharsky has left his executive VP role at In Demand Networks to become general manager of the Food Network, it was announced Monday. Along with overseeing Food Network’s day-to-day operations, Mr. Kuharsky will spearhead the brand’s expansion into new business development.

“Sergei’s successful innovation and strategy for evolving brands is exactly what Food Network needs as it continues to grow,” said Brooke Johnson, president of Food Network. “His multiplatform experience will be a great asset to our business.”

Mr. Kuharsky joins Food Network from In Demand Networks, the cable industry’s largest provider of video-on-demand and high-definition TV entertainment. While there he led many initiatives including INHD, a suite of linear high-definition networks; “Howard Stern on Demand”; and the Emmy Award-winning “NASCAR In-Car,” cable’s first interactive subscription sports package.

Before that, Mr. Kuharsky was senior VP of marketing for Now Showing Entertainment, a company focused on delivering pay-per-view entertainment to the home.

He also was senior VP of brand marketing for franchises and movies at Nickelodeon, where he managed the integration of franchises across the Viacom brands and the partnership with Paramount Pictures to market Nickelodeon’s theatrical features.

Mr. Kuharsky also was VP of marketing at Warner Home Video and director of marketing at Walt Disney Home Video.

(Editor: Horowitz)