Fox Television Studios scripted chief David Madden has hired a trio of executives to fill the company’s programmer ranks. Former Spike TV executive Pancho Mansfield, former Fox International Channels executive Diego Suarez and former Endeavor agent Karyn Smith have joined the studio.
The moves follow a shakeup at FTVS that began in April when Emiliano Calemzuk replaced Angela shapiro as president, following her departure to lead cable network TLC.
Mr. Mansfield joins the studio as senior VP of programming with several years of experience working in development at Showtime. He most recently was head of original programming at Spike TV.
“Pancho is a star, one of the most respected and admired executives in the television business, and I think it’s an extraordinary coup that we’ve landed him,” Mr. Madden said. “He’s passionate about what he does, painstaking in pushing things forward, an ardent champion and a shrewd judge of talent, specializing in gritty, ambitious programming. He’s been a buyer for years, so he knows what buyers need, and he’ll be an extraordinary seller.”
Mr. Suarez also gains a senior VP of programming title, focusing on international co-production. Ms. Smith is director of programming.
The FTVS scripted division has enjoyed a banner summer having produced two breakout cable titles, “Saving Grace” for TNT and “Burn Notice” for USA.